Travis Kelce is having a brutal start to the 2024 NFL season but Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid doesn’t think it’s because he had a ‘cruel summer.’
See what I did there?
Travis has spent the first three weeks of the season putting up some very un-Kelce-like numbers. He has just 8 catches on the season for 69 yards and a big goose egg in the TD column. That includes a brutal performance of 1 catch for 5 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Still, the Chiefs are 3-0 and nobody seems all too worried about the lack of production from the tight end position. That includes Reid, who believes an offseason of partying it up with pop star Taylor Swift is not behind Kelce’s slow start.
“I know people are saying that he’s old or whatever, that he has distractions and all this. The defenses don’t think that,” Reid told reporters.
“We have another receiver opposite him that has a lot of yards and catches. That’s how this thing goes. Trav is fine. He just keeps being Trav. He works his tail off and he hasn’t lost a step. He’s not distracted. That’s not the case. [Opposing defenses] are making sure he’s taken care of.”
Reid’s Excuse For Travis Kelce Tracks With What His Teammates Are Saying
Andy Reid’s suggestion that opposing teams are just defending Travis Kelce well is in line with what some of the other Chiefs players are saying.
Defensive end George Karlaftis told TMZ Sports that Kelce, contrary to popular belief, has not lost a step.
“Teams have to respect him,” Karlaftis said suggesting that double teams are the issue. “He’s the greatest tight end to ever play, you could argue. Certainly I think so.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes alluded to the same excuse.
“The respect factor they [teams] have for Travis is unreal,” said Mahomes. “We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three people going to him.”
Now, Reid believes the same thing. However, he does add the caveat of Rashee Rice’s performance on the other side of the field. Rice leads the league in receptions and is second in receiving yards. (He also currently leads the league in reckless driving felony charges.)
If double-teaming Kelce is working, opposing defenses might want to shift those schemes to the other side so Rice can stop torching them.
At this point, make Travis prove that he is in shape and that his teammates are correct.
Are People Buying These Excuses?
I’m not sure fans are buying what the Chiefs are selling when it comes to Travis Kelce’s poor start.
An off-season of traveling across the globe with his girlfriend Taylor Swift and a renewed focus on a career in Hollywood all have fans wondering if he just doesn’t have his heart in the game any longer.
He’s been caught on the sideline looking sad. Distant. Not to mention the fresh cut of the lettuce on his head that makes him look like he’s trying out for the role of Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite 2.
It’s all very odd.
Former ESPN personality Todd McShay is one of only a few sports commentators who is pointing out that Kelce doesn’t look to be in shape.
Some experts even think football is taking a backseat in Kelce’s life…
— Kicks (@kicks) September 24, 2024
Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay is certainly concerned: pic.twitter.com/TdJ1wXx4An
“Every show I watch, every pregame show, halftime show, postgame show, weekday show, every broadcast I watch for the last few weeks, it’s like are we not allowed to say that he’s out of shape, that he’s been partying all offseason?” asked McShay.
“He’s been jet-setting around with the most famous person probably in the entire world, that he’s drinking, going to the U.S. Open.”
The Chiefs are undefeated but they’ve narrowly won each contest. Kelce needs to get back into game shape fast if they’re going to continue winning games and perhaps be the first team to ever win a Super Bowl in three straight years.
He’s an all-time great player at his position. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if he goes on a tear in the coming weeks.
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