Breaking News Could Have Drastic Impact On Chicago Bears' Schedule

The Chicago Bears are busy with their preparations for the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. That is to be expected. They haven't beaten their rivals since 2018. It is a monkey they desperately want to get off their backs. If they succeed, it could set the stage for a much-improved year for the team. Yet even as this happens, shocking events are taking place that involve future Bears opponents. The latest involved the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. According to head coach Andy Reid, superstar tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice.

That puts his status for the opener against the Detroit Lions in doubt, as it's only two days away. Pro Football Doc David J. Chao believes there is no way Kelce will play Thursday night. The only uncertainty is how serious the damage is.

"Pro Football Docs have serious concerns about Kelce's knee injury - best case he's out a few weeks - either way not playing Thursday."

Losing Kelce for one game is a brutal blow. He's the focal point of the Chiefs' passing game. Their arsenal of weapons isn't exactly deep. Even a superstar like Patrick Mahomes needs pieces around him. Typical knee hyperextension takes somewhere from two to four weeks to recover, depending on severity. If it's the latter, that means the tight end likely won't suit up for the Bears' September 24th visit to Arrowhead.

The benefits don't end there for the Chicago Bears.

There is also a strong possibility defensive tackle Chris Jones won't be available for that game as well. The Chiefs All-Pro is coming off a 15-sack season and a second Super Bowl title. He wants a contract extension that puts him among the highest-paid at his position. Kansas City hasn't been willing to meet his price tag. As a result, Jones has sat at home for the entirety of training camp and the preseason. He still hasn't returned, even with the regular season only 48 hours away. It's clear he intends to carry this holdout forward, even stating Week 8 was likely when he'd return unless something changes.

Try to imagine a scenario where the Chicago Bears don't have to face two of Kansas City's three future Hall of Famers in Week 3. It would be a tremendous stroke of good fortune and give them a golden opportunity to pull off an upset. Even if Kelce does return, it is a strong possibility he won't be 100% healthy. While seeing someone get hurt is never good, it's hard to deny this development benefits the Bears.