Patrick Mahomes on Travis Kelce battling through ankle injury: 'One of the greatest'

Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) tight end Travis Kelce battled through injury to help lead his team to a 27-20 Week 5 victory over the Minnesota Vikings (1-4) Sunday.

Kelce suffered a low ankle sprain late in the second quarter, but was able to return and play in the remainder of the game. Although hobbled, the 34-year-old still turned in a 10-catch, 67-yard performance to finish as Kansas City’s leading pass-catcher.

His ability to battle through the pain makes him one of the greatest of all-time, quarterback Patrick Mahomes said after the game.

“Then you got back to the locker room, they’re looking at it and stuff like that. But I knew — I mean, obviously it hurts. And if Travis is out of the game it hurts,” Mahomes said, via Pro Football Talk. “I knew he was trying to get back in. I feel like Travis has the same mindset as I do. If you give him a window of if he can get back in the game, he’s going to get back in the game.

“Competitor, man. That’s why he’s one of the greatest. He will battle through stuff like that and came back and made a lot of great catches for us.”

Travis Kelce remains top tight end in 11th season

Mahomes added he didn’t attempt to check in with Kelce at halftime, saying he tends to be a “mean guy” when he’s hurting. He then compared the situation to what he dealt with during last year’s playoffs when he played through a high ankle sprain.

“I saw him actually on the sideline on that first drive,” Mahomes said. “It was role reversal of me in the playoffs just standing there on the sideline trying to get back in. No, I thought those other guys stepped up. Big drive at the end of the half to step up and make plays.”

Kelce would go on to score a four-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Chiefs a 27-13 lead. The future Hall of Famer is showing no signs of slowing down in his 11th season in the NFL. Kelce has hauled in 27 receptions for 222 yards and three touchdowns in four games this season.