Can Jody Fortson Claim Chiefs’ Second Tight End Spot?

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The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the league’s best tight ends in Travis Kelce. His current run has been among the very greatest of players at his position in NFL history. However, there is a fascinating couple of names to think about behind him at the Kansas City tight end position.

There is someone who is arguably a glorified offensive lineman at this point (Blake Bell). Meanwhile, some former undrafted free agents are looking to put their names on the map (Matt Bushman, Mark Vital). 2021 draft pick Noah Gray has potential to grow into a quality pass catching depth piece. Yet, the name that stands out the most is Jody Fortson.

Fortson has quickly become a fan favorite for Chiefs Kingdom. Despite not playing a ton of NFL games so far, he has turned heads for many reasons. His story as he came from Valdosta State is part of that. Elsewhere, his size is tantalizing for a pass catcher in today’s pass happy NFL. It is the tenacious attitude and hard-working energy that immediately stands out for Jody Fortson, most of all.

2022 will be treated as a chance at redemption for the up-and-coming tight end. How will his infectious energy translate to this different start to his season? Can Fortson pick up from where he left off? Finally, does he continue to climb the ladder on the Chiefs’ depth chart and claim the second tight end spot?

Fortson’s Story

From the start of his collegiate career, Jody Forston has continued to work higher up the ladder. He started from the ground up and has continued to showcase why he belongs among the most dynamic pass catchers. First off, Fortson began his college football career at Erie Community College in western New York. He made his way to the aforementioned Valdosta State afterwards. Fortson was not just looking to prove himself at a Division II school. Overall, the production and amount of opportunities were limited for the most part. Yet, his run with the Blazers was enough to give him a new chance as a possible UDFA signee in the NFL.

The Kansas City Chiefs took that swing in 2019. Both of his first two preseasons with the team were eye-popping. Training camp practices were filled with highlight reel catches from Fortson. Meanwhile, his preseason game results were largely head-turning via a splash play or two. He was used as a wide receiver in those instances.

Fast forward to last year, and the team moved him into a tight end role. After a couple of years of serving his time on the practice squad, Fortson made the Chiefs active roster for 2021. Kansas City rolled with a tight end room that was filled with four names. Kelce, Bell, Gray and Jody Fortson each cashed in when given spots to work with. His unique work ethic, determination and positive attitude has continued to pave the way for him.

Working Back From Injury

Unfortunately for Jody Fortson, his first real chance was halted early on last season. He made five catches for 47 receiving yards, along with two receiving touchdowns during his six-game stretch. However, that sixth game saw Fortson go down with a season-ending Achilles injury against Washington. It was a gruesome non-contact injury, where he slipped out of the blocks during the beginning of his route.

Certain injuries have affected some players differently than others. Though, an Achilles injury can generally take an elongated amount of time to come back from. Being careful and cautious with some pass catchers after that injury could come into play. That has not necessarily been a speed that Jody Fortson is used to using, per se. Nevertheless, the Chiefs know that his recovery time had an early start and that could lead to perfect timing for him during training camp.

His Unique Skill Set

Transitioning from a wide receiver to a tight end was not easy. For the Chiefs and Jody Fortson, it is a match made in heaven, nevertheless. Kansas City is one of many teams who predicates their offense on winning in space and with quickness. Despite his dense and longer build, Fortson is rather comfortable in each of those areas. The run after catch ability is not completely absent while the ball is in his hands.

On the other hand, we saw how physical Fortson can become when going up to make a catch. He has a distinct height advantage over many defensive backs around the NFL. At the same time, Fortson possesses the flexibility and body control to adjust and make difficult catches in traffic. Not every team has a backup tight end with the skill set that he can provide.

The Other Candidates

Of the other competing names for the Chiefs’ second tight end spot, Jody Fortson arguably has the most upside as a pass catcher. He can add a downfield presence. For instance, his ability to attack vertically is rare for most tight ends in the NFL. Moreover, Fortson is rather urgent to reaching top speed instantly, once the catch is secured.

With Bell, he may only be kept on the roster for blocking purposes. He has become the de facto runner on Kansas City’s quarterback sneak call, after coming in motion to directly behind the center. There have been a few catches that he has made with the Chiefs. But overall, Bell could be replaced by other names, while Fortson continues to climb the depth chart.

There is still hope for Gray to grow even further. In fact, his ability to make catches in traffic and down the field improved as the season got deeper last year. He has been described as a versatile pass catcher for today’s NFL. On the flip side, Gray must continue to show growth, if he wants to be a focal point like Jody Fortson.

The Talent Will Win Out

There is no denying the talent that Jody Fortson has. It is not just that it is specific to this Kansas City offense. Furthermore, Fortson can quickly become a sense of relief for Kelce as well. The top tight end has continued to be at the top of the league’s receiving ranks for his position. But with a new-look offense, Fortson could add some sense of reprieve to Kelce’s workload, so to speak.

Elsewhere, Fortson has a much higher ceiling than any other guy competing for the Chiefs’ second tight end spot. At least currently speaking, the opportunity for him to quickly produce for the offense is ripe. If there is anything that Andy Reid and the Kansas City coaching staff has shown us over the years, it is that the talent will win out and cannot be denied.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.