Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was instrumental in 3-0 start

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ask anyone in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room, from Andy Reid to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, why Travis Kelce didn’t catch passes and they will have the same answer: it’s not his fault.

In fact, they’ll say the fact that the four-time All-Pro tight end has just eight catches for 69 yards through the first three weeks of the season is also a big reason why the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are 3. -0 heading into a game against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.

Kelce simply demands a cover, even as his 35th birthday approaches next weekend. This is of course not a new concept, but opposing defenses have taken it to the extreme this season. Double teams are constant, and even triple teams have become regular, as was the case in a 22-17 victory last Sunday night in Atlanta.

So, with Kelce covered, that allowed Rashee Rice to catch 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, JuJu Smith-Schuster to catch his first touchdown pass of the season, and even tight end Noah Gray to settle for easy grip. .

“I feel like I want to give him the ball more,” Mahomes said of Kelce, “whereas he’s just like, ‘I just want to win, man.’ I don’t care. I’m going to run these routes and take guys with me so other guys can get open.

The 25-year-old version of Kelce may not have had the same magnanimous attitude, back when he was still trying to become a celebrity. But he’s just not secure in his career at this point – he’ll almost certainly be headed to the Hall of Fame once his playing days are over – and with three Super Bowl rings on his fingers, he’ll do anything to get a fourth. .

Even if it means becoming a de facto decoy in the Kansas City offense.

“He literally knows — I mean, he knows — that he collects people,” Reid said. “Then you have the checks we did last week. Those big wins thanks to the checks – or to Noah, standing alone in the middle of the field. (Rice) being able to get into one-on-one situations. It’s a tribute to Travis, and he knows it.

That might not sit well with fantasy football owners who invested first- and second-round picks in the still-productive tight end. But it fits well in the Kansas City locker room, where Kelce has long been one of the veteran voices.

“In all honesty, I think he’s always been that guy,” said Mahomes, one of Kelce’s closest friends. “What’s been great for me in my career is he wants to make an impact in the game, and he wants to make plays, but he wants to win at the end of the day.

“If we win,” Mahomes said, “he’s good at going out and playing hard — blocking, doing whatever he can to impact the game. Every time we win games, it’s is everyone, man you just want to win at the end of the day.

Many critics still claim that Kelce has lost a step with age. Or he’s become distracted by his growing number of off-the-court activities, from his relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift to his hit podcast with his brother and former Eagles center Jason Kelce, or the acting and hosting opportunities he had on television. lately.

Reid and Mahomes are the first to reject these suggestions.

They are also the first to point out that things eventually balance out. If Rice continues to catch 12 passes for 110 yards and a score every game, the second-year receiver will naturally attract more attention and Kelce will find more space to work with.

In the meantime, Mahomes said Kelce is still doing a great job as the team’s leader.

“Playing hard, doing everything he can to make an impact in the game,” Mahomes said. “When you do that in this league, good things usually happen, and I’m excited for him to go out there and make an impact receiving the ball as well.”

For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit KSN-TV.