Taylor Swift Misses Chiefs-Vikings Game, Travis Kelce Sustains Apparent Ankle Injury

Taylor Swift is seen leaving VMAs After Party Hosted by Diddy on September 13, 2023 in New York City.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Taylor Swift was not at Sunday’s (Oct. 8) Chiefs-Vikings game, where rumored romantic interest Travis Kelce sustained an injury. Earlier in the game, which was televised on CBS, on-air commentator Jim Nantz confirmed that Swift was nowhere to be seen at Minneapolis, Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium.

“In case you’re wondering, seven words I never thought would leave my lips in my career: Taylor Swift is not at the game,” Nantz announced. “That’s a first. I’ve never said that before. There’s some brokenhearted people I just saw in the stands.”

The camera panned to a Swift fan holding up a sign, and holding on to the hope of her appearing. Her sign asked what many were thinking: “Where’s Taylor?” A photo from Getty Images, seen below, shows another fan displaying a clever sign, noting that 87 (Kelce’s number) and 13 (Swift’s lucky number) equals 100%. “Kelce make a Swift TD,” it read.

A fan holds up a sign in reference to Taylor Swift prior to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 8, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Others in the stands were shown wearing jerseys that read “SWIFTIE” on the back.

While Swift was not there to cheer on Kelce in person, as she has for the last two Chiefs games, the tight end seemingly tripped on the field’s turf and sustained a non-contact injury. Kelce was seen leaving the field, throwing off his helmet and heading to the locker room.

Kelce returned to the sideline with a securely wrapped right ankle.

Commentator Tracy Wolfson gave an update: “Travis Kelce is still on the sideline right now, but as you can see, helmet on, that right foot is wrapped up. I was just told he’s gonna try and give it a go. They’re leaving it up to him. He wants to play in this game, guys.”

Kelce reportedly suffered what is assumed to be high ankle sprain. Reports said that medical staff cleared Kelce to return if he wanted to. He ultimately rejoined the game and, soon after his return, scored a touchdown.

“Kelce comes off the X-ray table and finds the endzone,” the announcer said.

See what happened to Kelce at the Chiefs-Vikings game below. Plus, scroll through several Swift/football fan reactions to both the singer being absent at Sunday’s game and Kelce’s injury.

Travis Kelce injured his lower right leg on this play, a non-contact injury:

He is headed to the locker room ????
pic.twitter.com/4TCn1g6cGo

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 8, 2023

Travis Kelce heads to the locker room after sustaining an injury.

"He immediately just threw his helmet down in frustration." – @tracywolfson pic.twitter.com/9E3n8DcLMu

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— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) October 8, 2023

Chiefs get good news on Travis Kelce.

Tracy Wolfson: "Travis Kelce still on the sideline right now but as you can see, helmet on. That right foot is wrapped up. And I was just told he's gonna try to give it a go. They're leaving it up to him. He wants to play in this game." pic.twitter.com/y8bQdTWZeo

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2023

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