The Kansas City Chiefs will be without one of their play-making tight ends for the season. Tight end Jody Fortson did not suit up with the team on Sunday for the first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints due to a subluxated shoulder – when the humerus partially slides in and out of place quickly – he suffered on July 28 during practice.
The Chiefs were hopeful their backup tight end would return to the field at some point because of his athleticism’s impact on the offense. Unfortunately, Fortson’s 2023 campaign is over before it could ever get started. Head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters after practice on Tuesday and updated that Fortson will be placed on the season-ending injury reserve list.
Fortson entered the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State and signed with the Chiefs as a wide receiver. After barely making the practice squad that season, he bulked up and changed his position to tight end the following year to better compete for a roster spot.
In 2021, Fortson finally made the team but tore his Achilles, ending his season in the sixth game of the year. He returned the following year but missed time with elbow and quad injuries, appearing in just nine games.
The 27-year-old has only appeared in 19 games and has recorded 14 receptions for 155 yards and two scores in the last two seasons.
Losing Fortson is a disappointing blow to the Chiefs, especially since Reid plans to run the offense without a traditional fullback, meaning there probably would’ve been a more exclusive role for him in the lineup. Now, he’ll have to wait until 2024 to resume his pro career.
Without Fortson competing for a roster spot, the next-man-up mentality paves the way for NFL hopefuls Matt Bushman, Kendall Blanton, and Izaiah Gatherings to receive more reps.
