Chiefs to place TE Jody Fortson on injured reserve
Well, this stinks. Following Tuesday's practice, Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid provided injury updates on several different players, with nearly a dozen different injury-related absences. Late in his press conference, Reid had an unfortunate injury update to provide surrounding fan-favorite tight end Jody Fortson. The Valdosta State product has been missing from training camp since […]
Well, this stinks.
Following Tuesday's practice, Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid provided injury updates on several different players, with nearly a dozen different injury-related absences.
Late in his press conference, Reid had an unfortunate injury update to provide surrounding fan-favorite tight end Jody Fortson. The Valdosta State product has been missing from training camp since July 28 after suffering a dislocated shoulder in practice.
As it turns out, Fortson has elected to have surgery on that injured shoulder. In turn, he'll be placed on injured reserve. It's the last remaining roster move needed to make room for the team's newest arrivals.
"Jody (Fortson), yeah," Reid confirmed. "Jody is having his shoulder done."
Fortson is coming off a 2022 NFL campaign where he emerged as an elite run blocker for the team. He also notched nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns after appearing in 13 games and starting a single contest.
Injuries have been the main hold-up for Fortson during his NFL career. He dislocated his elbow in Week 15 of 2022 and spent some time on injured reserve, but was later activated for the AFC title game and Super Bowl LVII. Fortson previously suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 6 of the 2021 NFL season.
Being placed on injured reserve at this juncture likely means that Fortson's 2023 NFL season is over. He'll not be eligible to be designated to return from injured reserve.
The only chance he has at playing in 2023 is if he were to reach an injury settlement with the Chiefs and later re-sign with the team after he's healthy. Kansas City has done that in the past with players like Gehrig Dieter and Matt Bushman in order to circumvent league injured reserve return-designation rules.
As for what this means for the rest of the tight end room, the path just got that much easier for players like Bushman to make the 53-man roster.
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Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
