Patrick Mahomes launched to the defense of Travis Kelce as the tight end struggled to impress once again in the 2024/25 NFL season during a 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 8.
The 35-year-old three-time Super Bowl champion posted five receptions from six targets for 45 yards at the Arrowhead Stadium to improve his numbers to the year to 682 yards and two touchdowns from 80 catches on 107 targets.
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Whilst that still puts him in the upper echelon tight ends, it’s far below the standards that has helped him become a nine-time Pro Bowl player since his first nomination all the way back in 2015.
And there are claims that he is distracted by his venture into the film and television industry and by his superstar pop sensation girlfriend, Taylor Swift, but Mahomes quickly dismissed notions Kelce‘s heart isn’t in it anymore.
“Everybody sees the personality on TV,” Mahomes told media after the game. “But you don’t see the work ethic.
“He gets mad when they take him out of practice reps.”
Why is Kelce struggling?
A quick glance at the targets will not even explaining why Kelce‘s struggling in the 2024/25 season, with him on pace for 139 targets which would be the fourth-highest of his 11 years in the sport.
However, Mahomes has previously alluded to teams focusing on shutting him out of the game more than they have done in the past due to the Chiefs‘ receiver struggles with injuries to Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice.
That’s allowed Noah Gray to begin to establish himself as a rival tight end in the offense, whilst for Kelce, he is averaging a career-low 8.5 yards-per-carry due to the extra personnel following him around.
If the Chiefs can sneak Brown back just before the playoffs to give Mahomes another senior option than Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins, then the 35-year-old could begin to find more space on the field.
Especially if Isiah Pacheco gets back up to speed to offer a deep threat to take some pressure off further.