Chiefs’ Travis Kelce ‘Not Worried’ About Early Season Slump: ‘It’s Football, Baby’

Julia StumbaughSeptember 25, 2024

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce says he is “not worried” about his limited production through three games of the 2024 season.

“It’s football, baby. Come on now. I’m not getting caught up in getting the targets and all that,” Kelce told his brother Jason Kelce on Wednesday’s episode of his New Heights podcast (14:30 mark.) “I just want to have a successful offense. And I think Pat’s doing a great job of finding the open guy and making the right decisions right now.”

Kelce continued: “I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man. I’m not worried about the catches and the yards, and all of that. I have the most fun when I get the ball thrown my way, I mean, who doesn’t?

“It has everything to do with execution, and just making sure that we’re doing everything we can to win these football games, man. That’s always going to be the goal.”

Through the Chiefs’ 3-0 start to the season, Kelce has made eight catches on 12 targets for 69 yards and no touchdowns.

Unlike in 2023, when Kelce led his team in receptions and receiving yards, it has been Rashee Rice receiving the majority of targets from Mahomes so far.

The 24-year-old wideout leads the Chiefs, and the entire NFL, with 24 catches and 200 yards after the catch, while catching two touchdown passes through Kansas City’s first three games.

Next Gen Stats @NextGenStatsRashee Rice gained 75 of his 110 yards after the catch across 12 receptions on 14 targets. Rice also forced 5 missed tackles.

Rice currently leads all players in yards after catch this season (200), and leads all wide receivers in missed tackles forced (9).

“Rashee, he’s rolling right now, man. I couldn’t be happier for the guy,” Kelce said. “You wanna talk about one of the hardest workers in the building? Week in, week out, day in, day out, he’s out there busting his ass in practice. And I’ll tell you what, man, he’s getting rewarded with the way he’s playing right now.”

Kelce told his brother he is fine Rice getting the majority of the targets “as long as we’re winning football games,” which his team has so far been able to do while climbing out to a 3-0 season start for the first time since 2010.

The Chiefs could still decide to change things up on offense after Mahomes told reporters he doesn’t believe he’s “played very well” while struggling with passing accuracy early this season.

If head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy look to make some adjustments following last weekend’s close win over the Atlanta Falcons, Kelce could get some more targets heading into Week 4 at the Los Angeles Chargers despite Rice’s early-season dominance.