Chiefs' Blake Bell: Largely out of rotation in 2023
Rotowire
Bell reeled in five of his nine targets for 26 yards and a touchdown during the 2023 regular season.
Bell provided a serviceable backup veteran tight end for the Chiefs in 2023, but he sat clearly behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray in the pecking order. Belldozer's contract expires following the season, so it wouldn't be shocking if the 31-year-old looks into the open market for another spot in 2024 after three seasons with the Chiefs. Bell has tallied no more than 11 receptions in a season since his rookie year, so he's not a fantasy asset to consider next season, regardless of the uniform he dons.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Draws first target since Week 8
Rotowire
Bell played 10 of 65 snaps on offense and failed to haul in his lone target in Sunday's 27-17 win over the Patriots.
Bell has suited up in each of the Chiefs' first 14 games of the season, but since hauling in a short touchdown reception in Week 1 when Travis Kelce was sidelined with a knee injury, the 32-year-old tight end has barely made a ripple in the box score. All together, Bell has put together a 3-19-1 receiving line on six targets this season while typically seeing only a handful of snaps behind Kelce and Noah Gray in any given week.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Snaps drop down in Kelce's return
Rotowire
Bell went without a target across 14 snaps on offense in Sunday's 17-9 win over the Jaguars.
Bell logged 25 snaps on offense and cashed in with two catches for 12 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' season-opening loss to the Lions, but as expected, his opportunities took a hit Week 2 with top tight end Travis Kelce (knee) returning to the lineup. The 32-year-old remains the clear third option on the depth chart behind Kelce and Noah Gray.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Scores in Kelce's absence Thursday
Rotowire
Bell brought in two of three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 21-20 loss to the Lions on Thursday night.
Bell and Noah Gray filled in for the sidelined Travis Kelce (knee) on Thursday, and the former did his share by recording a four-yard touchdown grab late in the first half to snap a 7-7 tie. The veteran tight end's score marked only his second career trip to the end zone across 101 regular-season games, and if Kelce is healthy enough to suit up for a Week 2 visit to the Jaguars a week from Sunday, Bell should be back to his very minor pass-catching role.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Re-signs with Chiefs
Rotowire
Bell and the Chiefs agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Bell will return to Kansas City for a fourth straight season with the team in 2023. As a backup option behind Travis Kelce at tight end, Bell appeared in three games in 2022, reeling in two catches for 20 yards and a score. With the departures of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman at wide receiver this offseason, it's possible that Bell could be asked to step into a larger role next season.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Small involvement late in 2022
Rotowire
Bell caught his only target for three yards during the Week 18 victory versus the Raiders.
Bell spent most of the 2022 campaign on injured reserve due to a hip flexor injury that required surgery. He didn't rejoin the action until Week 16 and played minimal offensive snaps over the final three weeks. Despite that, the veteran backup tight end compiled a pair of catches for 20 yards and his first career touchdown. Bell is late enough in his career that he's clearly not going to turn into a significant receiving threat, so he can be left on waiver wires everywhere heading into 2023. Bell is also a free agent heading into next season, so he'll aim to find a home somewhere as a backup again.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Activated from injured reserve
Rotowire
The Chiefs activated Bell (hip) from injured reserve Friday.
Bell, who's yet to play this year while rehabbing from hip surgery, was designated to return from injured reserve Tuesday and has been added to the active roster Friday. He's on track to make his season debut Saturday against the Seahawks, but fantasy mangers are still encouraged to confirm his status ahead of kickoff. If he's indeed available, he'll likely assume the backup role behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray that was previously held by Jody Fortson, who's been placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Could suit up Week 16
Rotowire
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday that he feels "pretty good" that Bell (hip) will be activated from IR ahead of Saturday's game against the Seahawks, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.
Bell was placed on IR after undergoing surgery to address a hip flexor injury in late August. The 31-year-old was designated to return from injured reserve Tuesday, and it appears he could be ready to suit up again at the earliest possible opportunity Week 16. Bell caught nine passes for 87 yards over 16 regular-season games last season, With Jody Fortson (elbow) already ruled out against Seattle, Bell could immediately step back in as the Chiefs' No. 3 tight end behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Designated to return from IR
Rotowire
The Chiefs designated Bell (hip) to return from injured reserve Tuesday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Bell practiced Tuesday for the first time this season, which begins a 21-day window for him to be added to the active roster. It's unclear if he'll suit up in Week 16, but if he's available, he could help replace the potential absence of Jody Fortson, who's unlikely to play against the Seahawks due to an elbow injury, per head coach Andy Reid, Sweeney reports.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Return timeline still unclear
Rotowire
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Bell (hip) is close to a return but added the tight end could also be sidelined for a couple more weeks, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.
Bell began the campaign on IR following surgery to repair a hip flexor injury he suffered in late August and has remained sidelined since. While Reid's comments about the tight end being close to a return are encouraging, the head coach had a similar sentiment ahead of Kansas City's Week 8 bye, but Bell still remains on IR to start Week 9. It sounds like the Chiefs expect the tight end to return this season, but they don't appear to be in any rush to get him back on the active roster.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Expected to start season on IR
Rotowire
Bell (hip) is expected to make the Chiefs' initial 53-man roster then be placed on IR, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Bell's placement on IR won't be season-ending due to him making Kansas City's initial 53-man roster, but he will be required to miss at least the first four games of the season once the move is made official. Once healthy, Bell is expected to handle an important depth role behind Travis Kelce.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Dealing with hip flexor
Rotowire
Bell is without a timeline to return from surgery to address a hip flexor injury, ESPN.com reports.
Bell suffered the injury in the Chiefs' preseason opener, which ultimately led to him undergoing surgery. Head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that it's an "unusual" injury, and Reid added that he doesn't expect to see Bell on the field in the near future. The tight end could end up on injured reserve next week, a move that Reid did not rule out.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Undergoes hip procedure
Rotowire
Bell recently underwent surgery to address a hip flexor injury, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.
While a timetable for Bell's return hasn't been outlined, it seems likely he'll miss regular-season action. In his absence, Noah Gray
and Jody Fortson are next up for tight end reps behind the team's clear-cut top option at the position, Travis Kelce.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Remains sidelined with hip flexor
Rotowire
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Bell (hip) didn't practice Monday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Bell was carted off the field during Saturday's preseason contest due to the hip flexor injury, but the severity of the issue remains unclear. In his absence, Noah Gray and Jody Fortson are candidates for increased roles behind Travis Kelce.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Closes out 2021 on quiet note
Rotowire
Bell was not targeted on his 21 offensive snaps in the regular-season finale versus the Broncos.
The Belldozer compiled just nine total catches for 87 yards on 13 targets during the 2021 season and has just two seasons total with double-digit receptions. The veteran tight end still hasn't caught a touchdown pass in his career and enters the offseason set to become an unrestricted free agent following a one-year deal. With Noah Gray developing behind Travis Kelce, Bell may be ticketed for a spot elsewhere in 2022.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Four touches in Week 17
Rotowire
Bell hauled in all of his three targets for 35 yards and rushed once for a pair of yards in Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Bell's rush came in the form of a fourth-down trick play in which he motioned under center and took what was essentially a quarterback sneak for the first down. Bell has some experience under center from his college days but doesn't figure to be utilized in that capacity very often, rushing just four times all season. He also finished with a season-high three catches in the contest, though the 36 percent offensive snap count aligns with what he's seen all season and would suggest this is most likely an outlier.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Returns from reserve/COVID-19 list
Rotowire
Bell was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Bell was on the COVID list for just three days before his activation Friday. Meanwhile, superstar tight end Travis Kelce has not yet passed through league COVID protocols, putting Bell in position to potentially start Sunday against Pittsburgh. Kelce's return in time for the contest has not yet been ruled out, however, so the situation remains murky for fantasy managers who roster Kelce and/or are considering picking up Bell.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Expected back from COVID list
Rotowire
Bell is expected to come off the reserve/COVID-19 list in advance of Sunday's game against the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
While such a move has yet to be confirmed by the team, Bell's Week 16 status is noteworthy, with Kansas City's top tight end Travis Kelce (illness) also on the reserve/COVID-19 list. If Bell is activated for Sunday's contest and Kelce isn't, Bell would be line to share TE work with Noah Gray versus Pittsburgh.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Overcomes back issue
Rotowire
Bell (back) returned to full practice Wednesday.
Bell missed the team's Week 6 matchup against Washington. However, he has seemingly recovered from the issue and should be in for a return in Week 7 against the Titans. Bell should continue to occupy the backup tight end role, and he's recorded four receptions for 33 yards through five games on the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Blake Bell: Ruled out for Week 6
Rotowire
Bell (back) won't play in Sunday's contest against Washington, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Bell didn't practice at all this week, so his status for Sunday shouldn't be a surprise. The 30-year-old has played at least 17 offensive snaps in all five games this season, so Noah Gray and Jody Fortson should be in line for an increased workload behind Travis Kelce on Sunday.
