Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid isn’t here for the notion that superstar tight end Travis Kelce is slowing down, despite the All-Pro’s surprisingly slow start to the 2024 season.
The 34-year-old Travis Kelce (35 next week) has just eight receptions for 69 yards and no touchdowns over his first three games. Kelce has exceeded the 60-catch and 800-yard mark every year since becoming a full-time starter in 2014, but he’s on pace to finish with below 400 yards this season.
Per ESPN’s Adam Teicher, coach Reid isn’t at all concerned about Kelce’s sluggish start to the season. Reid cited the production of second-year receiver Rashee Rice as well as the opposition’s focus on blanketing Kelce:
“I know people are saying that he is old or whatever, has distractions and all this [but] the defenses don’t think that. We have another receiver (Rashee Rice) that plays opposite him that has a lot of yards and catches and that’s how this thing goes.
“He works his tail off and he hasn’t lost his step and all those things and he’s not distracted. That’s not the case. People are making sure they have him taken care of by some of these defenses.”
Rice is off to a tremendous start with 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Xavier Worthy is second in receiving on the defending champs, albeit with only six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
