Another preseason game and another long Chiefs TE Travis Kelce touchdown catch-and-run.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught Aaron Murray's first ever NFL completion -- not his first attempt -- and darted past the Carolina Panthers' defense for a 43-yard score. The catch-and-run had a district similarity to the 69-yard snag-and-jaunt Kelce displayed last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The tight end finished Sunday's 28-16 loss with four catches for 63 yards, giving him a two-week total of six catches for 136 yards on seven targets.

Coming off microfracture surgery that cost him all of last season, the second-year pro sits behind Anthony Fasano in the Chiefs' pecking order. Kelce did play some with the first-team unit Sunday, but mainly in two-tight end sets.

"He's just got to keep coming with it and there's more than just the route running," Andy Reid said, per the team's official website. "You got to be able to run block and then you got to detail all your work there. But, you sure got to give him credit for the effort that he's giving in the pass game and he sure has a nice skill level."

The story goes on to point out the obvious: Kelce clearly has more upside and playmaking ability than Fasano, but the Chiefs insist on going with the more trusted veteran as their starter. If Kelce keeps making plays, however, he should force Reid to reconsider how he divvies up the snaps. We have Kelce ranked 20th, well ahead of Fasano, and trending up our charts. If you need to draft a second TE or play in a deeper league where you can start more than one, he looks like a guy to take a late-round shot on.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid said tight end Sean McGrath is indeed retiring. McGrath led an injury-depleted group of Chiefs’ tight ends in catches last season with 26. But the Chiefs are counting on a full season from starter Anthony Fasano and young backups Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris so McGrath might not have made the team anyway. But the Chiefs now lack a capable reserve in case of injury to one of the other three.

The most realistic hope for the Kansas City Chiefs to improve their passing game in 2014 is for them to get more than the 55 receptions they got last year from their tight ends. Their chances for that got better on Monday when Travis Kelce went through a full practice for the first time in almost a year.

Kelce moved around well and did so without a brace or any other kind of protection on the knee.

“From here, it’s just a matter of getting back into football shape and getting ready to play a 16-game season," he said.

Kelce is a player to monitor as training camp wears on. If he's healthy and making plays in practice, then there's a good chance that he'll see a lot of snaps during the regular season, as the Chiefs are hurting for playmakers in the passing game.

The Chiefs would like to use a lot of two-tight end formations. They planned to do more of that last season, but Travis Kelce and Tony Moeaki missed all season and Anthony Fasano missed half of it, so they were limited in what they could do there. You mentioned Demetrius Harris and he might help. But the guy who would make a two-tight end formation work for the Chiefs is Kelce. He's 260 pounds but is also a deep threat. If he's healthy, I could see the Chiefs using a lot of two tight ends. The Chiefs got 53 catches from their tight ends last season. That number needs to increase greatly this season.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce hasn't practiced this spring. He had knee surgery last year, missing all of the season, and has been rehabbing, but Reid held out some hope Kelce could get some work this week.

Kelce could surprise if he can get healthy.

Even at 260 pounds, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce showed the ability last year before his injury in offseason practice and training camp to beat a linebacker or safety down the field and make catches. Having a player of Kelce’s size and abilities can add a dimension to a team’s passing game.

But he has to get on the field first. Kelce, still recovering from the knee ailment, missed the first few offseason practices this year. That’s a troubling development. The Chiefs say he will return to practice in time. The fact they didn’t add a tight end in the offseason would support that stance.

Kelce’s situation bears watching. The sooner he can get back to practice, the better for the Chiefs.

Anthony Fasano and Sean McGrath appear assured of spots on the roster, which means the Chiefs might have to cut loose Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris or Richard Gordon.

Kelce missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury that has continued to keep him out of offseason workouts. Harris is still raw, considering he played basketball rather than football in college. And while Gordon is the most experienced, he also may have the lowest ceiling.

''We're excited as a staff to really see Kelce getting back out there at some point,'' offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. ''The emergence of Demetrius Harris, he's a tremendous talent. He mixes in there with those guys. They're having a good offseason.''

There is opportunity in the Chiefs offense at tight end given the team's problems at receiver, but someone has to beat out Anthony Fasano and/or Sean McGrath. Kelce was supposed to be that guy, but Harris has been turning heads in practice.

Chiefs TE Demetrius Harris has been looking good - he has the height (6-7) and is now 257 after reporting at 225 last year.

The ex-basketball player could have a shot rise up the depth chart if Travis Kelce (knee) can't get healthy.