Travis Kelce is being praised by Kansas City Chiefs teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire for helping him deal with PTSD, years after an 18-year-old was shot and killed while trying to rob him at gunpoint.
The incident occurred in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in December 2018, when Edwards-Helaire and then-LSU teammate Jared Small attempted to sell an electronic device.
Kobe Johnson was the teenager who was killed, and police have never said who fired the fatal shot. But the effects of that day are still being felt by Edwards-Helaire, who has recently missed practice due to PTSD.
Edwards-Helaire shared this week how Kelce is keeping a close eye on him during Kansas City’s training camp for the upcoming NFL season.
“It’s just not being there mentally. And it’s one of those things where in the beginning, like guys who are paying attention, Trav (Travis Kelce), Kadarius (Toney) sometimes, they even — they’ll know ahead of time (that he’s struggling). Like, ‘Okay, Clyde might not — he’s not smiling, he’s not giggling, he’s not himself.
Travis Kelce Helped Clyde Edwards-Helaire Cope With PTSD
Edwards-Helaire spoke about Kelce’s influence and courageously recounted his ordeal
He added that Kelce and Toney said, “We just have to make sure we watch him as a person, not just as someone who brings energy, who brings laughter, [or] ‘the one who keeps the locker room running.’
Edwards-Helaire said this week that a “defensive situation” on Dec. 22, 2018, was the beginning of his problems.
“I would say that’s probably the origin of most things, but I wouldn’t necessarily say everything stems from that,” the 25-year-old explains.
“I have best friends who died at a young age from gun violence. I just wasn’t in the right place at the right time. I know there are people close to me or around me who are in the same situation as me.
“My first few years you try to block everything out and then you think, ‘Oh, at some point I’ll get over it.’ And you start to realize that’s just not happening.
“You get older and you realize, ‘Hey, it doesn’t matter how old you are, who you are, what your situation is, everyone needs help at some point.’ It takes courage to talk about it. And when people talk about PTSD and dealing with it, it’s not something I always want to talk about.
‘I never really know how my body or mind is going to react. It’s just something I can’t pinpoint and I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I feel like talking is a big thing, but it’s just getting over that hump, honestly, everyone goes through good and bad things. It’s a stepping stone. I’m only 25 years old and I’m trying to live the rest of my life healthy.
‘Sometimes I get admitted to the hospital and I can’t stop throwing up. Nothing can stop it. Really bad dehydration, losing weight really fast but really mentally, not being there.’
Kelce and Edwards-Helaire are pictured together during Chiefs practice earlier this week
Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs aim for a historic Super Bowl ‘three-peat’ next season
Edwards-Helaire also tweeted earlier this week about dealing with PTSD: “Living with PTSD is not an easy task, it is difficult and very overwhelming.
‘I have been struggling with many flare-ups over the past month and the amazing staff here at the #Chiefs have helped me through those tough times.
‘I’ll be back at the next training! All the best, Glydro.’
The Chiefs open the next NFL season on September 5 with a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Edwards-Helaire and his team are in contention for a historic third straight Super Bowl victory.