What has happened to Travis Kelce?
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught one pass for five yards in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. It should be noted that he made what would have been a clutch 41-yard catch on the game’s final drive, but it was negated by an illegal use of hands penalty by offensive tackle Wanya Morris.
Through the first two weeks, Kelce has just four catches for 39 yards and has yet to find the endzone.
When asked about Travis Kelce’s performance against the Bengals, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made it clear that it had more to do with the attention he was receiving from Cincinnati’s defense.
“They were doing a great job of just having two people for him, pretty much the entire game,” Mahomes said after the game. “That’s why you have guys like Rashee [Rice] and [Xavier] Worthy. If you look at the first touchdown, I’m actually looking to Trav, and the backside safety goes all the way across the field to help guard Travis, and you throw the ball down the sideline to Rashee. That’s kind of been what they are doing.”
On social media, one fan provided an interesting theory for his slow start and how things will end up playing out when it is all said and done.
“He’s gonna be bad all year and then convert multiple key third downs in the playoffs,” an NFL fan tweeted. “I’m already mad about it.”
He’s gonna be ass all year and then convert multiple key third downs in the playoffs. I’m already mad about it https://t.co/Z6NodCsktd
— Lion (The System) (@Champ_Lion) September 16, 2024
Over 3 million people have seen that tweet, and it speaks to how much people know about the Chiefs because this exact scenario will likely play out just like that.
Travis Kelce Refuses To Get ‘Frustrated’ Over Slow Start
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has started the 2024 season slower than what fans would have expected.
After a ninth Pro Bowl season, Kelce has only gotten seven targets this year and has hauled in four catches for 39 yards.
The 34-year-old is getting close to being 35 and looking very much like it.
During Wednesday’s episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis Kelce said the following when asked by his brother about his lack of production thus far and how he feels about it:
“That’s football, man. I’m not about to sit here and get frustrated about it. I used to get really, really pissed off and almost lose my cool a lot of the time from not having that success, knowing I demand that out of myself. I just like to play the game to such a high level of accountability that it’s tough for me to deal with being mediocre or having stats that represent that.
“I stopped caring about stats about four or five years ago and I just went out there ands started to just play free and wanted to play for my guys. Sure enough, I think that’s the better mentality. You think about it more play-by-play and what your job is on that specific play. I think moving forward it’s just how can I be better in those moments.”
Aside from his rookie campaign, Travis Kelce has never finished an NFL campaign with fewer than 67 receptions or 862 yards.
