Travis Kelce has no place to hide after Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes suffer new blow

The onus is on Travis Kelce to step up following his anonymous start to the NFL season after the Kansas City Chiefs suffered a huge injury blow on Sunday.

Star running back Isiah Pacheco was hurt in Sunday's dramatic victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, and scans have confirmed he suffered a fractured fibula. The 25-year-old will have an MRI scan on Monday to discover the full scale of the injury, with potential ligament damage a concern for the Chiefs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Pacheco left Arrowhead Stadium on crutches wearing a walking boot, and he is expected to land on injured reserve meaning he will miss at least four games – and probably more.

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The former Rutgers standout has been a key piece of the Chiefs' offense since he was drafted in the seventh round two years ago. He has 189 all-purpose yards and one touchdown to his name through two games this season, having played a crucial role as the leading rusher en route to Kansas City's back-to-back Super Bowl triumphs in the past two seasons.

Veteran back Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele are expected to share the bulk of the workload in Pacheco's absence, with former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire placed on the non-football illness list and ruled out for at least two more games as he battles post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), relating to a "self-defense situation" in 2018.

With the Chiefs' resources in the backfield stretched to the limit, the pressure is on four-time All-Pro tight end Kelce to step up and make significant contributions over the coming weeks.

The 34-year-old has been a central piece of the Chiefs' success in recent years, collecting three Super Bowl rings. Kelce has become the heartbeat of the organization, but he has made a dismal start to the season by his high standards.

Through two weeks, Kelce has just four receptions for 39 yards. He hauled in just one catch for five years in the 26-25 victory over the Bengals.

Kelce is not alone in making a sluggish start. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranks 17th in passer rating and was significantly outplayed by Joe Burrow on Sunday. Mahomes threw for 151 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

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Burrow, meanwhile, put the Bengals on the precipice of victory by going 23 of 36 through the air for 258 yards and two touchdowns until a costly pass interference penalty inside the final minute on fourth and 16 moved the Chiefs into field goal range. Harrison Butker split the uprights from 51 yards as time expired to secure a walk-off win.

Kansas City has flirted with defeat in both of its opening games, surviving a scare on the final play of the season opener when Isaiah Likely's touchdown grab was ruled fractionally out of bounds.

With tough tests on the way, including a Super Bowl rematch on the road at the San Francisco 49ers next month, Mahomes needs help from his supporting cast, and Kelce will be crucial in moving the chains without the top two running backs on the Chiefs' depth chart.