Kansas City Chiefs Send Tight End to Injured Reserve

The Kansas City Chiefs will be short a tight end for at least the first four weeks of the season. Head coach Andy Reid announced on Monday the team would be placing Blake Bell on injured reserve, according to Pete Sweeney of arrowheadpride.com:

As expected, Chiefs TE Blake Bell to IR https://t.co/dYic7cP6R1
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) September 6, 2022

Bell hits injured reserve following making the team's initial 53-man roster, assuring he'll have the opportunity to return at some point this season after missing at least four games. The tight end went under the knife due to an unusual hip flexor injury suffered in the team's opening game of the preseason against the Chicago Bears.

Bell has forged a long career as a backup and blocking specialist at the tight end position since initially being drafted 117th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 NFL Draft. He started seven games for the Chiefs during their 2019 Super Bowl season and another five for the team last year, but he has never hauled in more than the 186 receiving yards he managed in his rookie season. With Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce devouring targets, Bell was unlikely to see a lot of balls thrown his way this season, either.

The Chiefs play the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday in their regular season opener.