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Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Sep 5, 2025 11:14 PM EDT
It was an eventful Friday for Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. During their Week 1 game in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers, the newly engaged tight end not only struggled with his play to start the game but also got involved in a couple of controversial moments.
In the first quarter, Chiefs wideout Xavier Worthy got injured and had to be ruled out for the rest of the game after his collision with Kelce. Video replays of the incident showed Kelce’s massive body making contact with Worthy’s right shoulder, causing the 22-year-old WR to fall to the ground.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87).
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) before their game against the Los Angeles Chargers. — Source: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images
Then, in the third quarter, Kelce found himself involved in another physical play. This time, however, he was on the receiving end of it. After getting entangled with Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart, the Chiefs TE pushed his opponent away.
The action angered Tart, who proceeded to smack Kelce on the head. A new angle of the whole incident showed how hard the hit was and how Kelce’s head turned due to the blow.
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Interestingly, Tart was not ejected for his retaliation, sparking outrage among fans who felt that the Chargers vet should have been removed from the game. After all, there have been several instances in the past where a player was thrown out of games for similar actions.
Regardless, Kelce seemed to be more motivated after the incident. In fact, he even showed his connection with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and scored a 37-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
About the Author
Angelo Guinhawa
Senior Editor, Athlon Sports
Angelo Guinhawa is a trending sports writer and senior editor for Athlon Sports. He specializes in basketball coverage, with a focus on the NBA and WNBA, though he has also reported on football (NFL), baseball (MLB) and soccer (MLS, EPL, La Liga).