Travis Kelce’s Slow Start to the 2024 NFL Season Explained

Travis Kelce’s underwhelming begin to the 2024 season has turned from a whisper right into a roar.

Via the primary three video games of the season, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish has caught solely eight passes for a complete of 69 yards. Making issues worse, Kelce has but to attain a landing.

It’s been a befuddling trio of video games for Kelce, 34, extensively thought to be the most effective tight ends in NFL historical past, who signed a monster two-year, $34.5 million contract extension with the Chiefs in April. 

So, what’s happening?

To know why Kelce’s begin has been such a sizzling matter — and such a degree of rivalry for some fantasy soccer homeowners — it’s vital to have a look again at why expectations are so excessive for the nine-time Professional Bowler, and why his coaches and teammates have been compelled to weigh in.

For a full breakdown on the historic significance of Kelce’s begin, maintain scrolling.

Why Has Travis Kelce’s Unhealthy Begin Been Such a Large Deal?

For one factor, that is Travis Kelce we’re speaking about.

The three-time Tremendous Bowl champion and four-time First Staff All-Professional has been as dominant as they arrive within the NFL over the course of the previous decade. 

Through the first three video games of Kelce’s most efficient season in 2022, he amassed 184 receiving yards on 17 receptions on his technique to profession highs in receptions (110), receiving yards (1,338) and touchdowns (12). 

Simply final 12 months, after lacking the primary recreation of the season in opposition to the Detroit Lions with a knee damage, Kelce nabbed 155 yards receiving in his first three begins mixed. 

In the mean time, Kelce is on observe to file simply over 45 receptions on the season, which might be 22 fewer than his smallest whole throughout his first full season in 2014. His projected season whole of 391 receiving yards would even be a career-low by a staggering margin, when he had 862 in 2014. 

Is Travis Kelce’s Dip in Play a New Factor?

Properly, kinda.

Kelce didn’t have a receiving landing within the Chiefs’ closing six common season video games in 2023, making it 9 straight mixed video games that Kelce hasn’t discovered the tip zone for those who embody this season.

Nonetheless, Kelce later turned issues on within the playoffs the place he earned 355 receiving yards and three touchdowns within the Chiefs’ 4 postseason video games. 

Kelce’s Week 2 output in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals was alarmingly lackluster, with only one reception for a complete of 5 yards. It marked the primary time since September 2018 that Kelce didn’t have three or extra receptions in a recreation. 

Is Patrick Mahomes Nonetheless Making an attempt to Throw to Travis Kelce?

Sure and no. 

Via the primary three video games, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has focused Kelce solely 12 instances with a 66 p.c success fee. 

Compared, Mahomes focused Kelce a median of seven.5 instances per common season recreation in 2023 and a median of 8.9 instances per recreation in 2022. 

There are a myriad of causes to elucidate why Kelce isn’t being focused fairly as a lot, however the easiest reply is that groups are guarding Kelce like their lives rely on it. 

“The respect issue they’ve for Travis is simply unreal,” Mahomes, 29, mentioned Sunday, September 22 after the Chiefs’ 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. “It’s well-deserved. However I imply, we’re calling a number of performs for Travis and it’s like two or three persons are going to him.”

What Has Travis Kelce Stated About His Sluggish Begin?

In the intervening time, Kelce has largely taken the whole lot in stride. 

“I ended caring about stats about 4 or 5 years in the past,” he informed brother Jason Kelce on their “New Heights” podcast September 18. “I simply went on the market and began to play free and play for my guys. Positive sufficient, I believe that’s the higher mentality. You consider it extra play by play and what your job is on that particular play.”

Kelce continued, “For no matter cause, these previous two video games it hasn’t gone that means for me. That’s soccer, man. I’m not about to take a seat right here and get pissed off about it. I used to get actually, actually pissed off and virtually lose my cool a number of the time from not having that success realizing I demand that out of myself. I similar to to play the sport to such a excessive degree of accountability that it’s robust for me to cope with me being mediocre or having stats that symbolize that.”

Nonetheless, that team-first mentality appeared to take a minor backseat because the clock winded down in opposition to the Falcons on Sunday, when NBC’s Sunday Evening Soccer cameras caught Kelce trying pissed off and despondent on the sidelines.

Through the broadcast, veteran analyst Cris Collinsworth expressed disbelief at Kelce’s lack of manufacturing. 

“I’m simply flabbergasted,” Collinsworth mentioned within the waning moments of the primary half. “I imply, one recreation, huge deal. Two video games, alright. That is the third recreation now the place we’ve got not seen the magic of Mahomes and Kelce. And I can’t actually clarify that one.”

What Has the Chiefs’ Teaching Employees Stated About Travis Kelce’s Begin?

Following the win in opposition to the Bengals in Week 2, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy mentioned Kelce has earned the endurance of keen soccer followers. 

“He is aware of who he’s,” Nagy, 46, mentioned throughout a press convention Thursday, September 19. “We all know who he’s. When you have got that, it’s vital to know that.”

Nagy added, “It’s only a matter of time.”

Is Taylor Swift Chargeable for Travis Kelce’s Subpar Play?

No, that’s not the way it works. 

Who Do the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Play Subsequent?

The Chiefs return to motion on Sunday, September 29 in opposition to Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (2-1) at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. 

After a jaunt to the west coast, Kelce and the squad return dwelling to tackle the New Orleans Saints on Monday, October 7.