Travis Kelce's slow start to the 2024 season continues to dominate sports media conversation after his third straight game of disappointing performance ended with just four receptions for 30 yards in Sunday night's 22-17 win over the Falcons.
While NBC's Cris Collinsworth noted the lack of “magic” between Kelce and Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, former ESPN personality Todd McShay focused on other factors surrounding the All-Pro tight end's high-profile life.
“Every show I watch, the pregame show, the halftime show, the postgame show, the weekday shows, every broadcast I've watched the last few weeks, I wonder if he's not in good health and that he's been partying all offseason. He's been jetting around with arguably the most famous person in the world, drinking, going to the U.S. Open.” McShay says On “The Rayanne Russillo Podcast” on Monday, he referenced Kelsey's adventure with girlfriend Taylor Swift earlier this month.
“… All I know is, take a 2022 preseason picture and a 2024 preseason picture. They're not the same guy, Leyen. Everybody's like, 'We have to give him the ball, why isn't he on offense?' The defense's in double coverage. With Kelce, the bottom line is the coverage and the respect he gets is the same, but the athlete is different. Is he going to get in shape during the season? Yeah, I'm sure he will. He's an incredible competitor, one of the all-time greats, and he still finds a way to make a play or two here and there and show up in big moments, but he's not the same guy now.”
Kelce, in his 12th NFL season with the Chiefs, has started the season with eight receptions for 69 yards and zero touchdowns, marking the first time since 2015 that he has failed to reach 1,000 total yards in a season.
Although the three-time Super Bowl champion recently said he stopped getting obsessed with statistics a long time ago, McShay wondered why some people avoid certain criticisms.
“You can tell he's not got the same explosiveness he used to have and he's tired a little bit in games. It's OK, he'll bounce back. It's not the first time we've had a guy not be at his best like he once was,” said McShay, who is nearing a deal to join The Ringer full-time after being fired by ESPN last year.
“And you're sitting here defending him. Isn't there some messaging from the league that we're not allowed to say he's not what he was and can't perform at his highest level right now? He's probably going to be back in shape by Week 8, Week 9, Week 10 this season. Are we not allowed to say that?”
McShay noted Kelce's efforts off the field, adding, “You can't do all of that and be the same person physically as you will be in 2022.”
“…I'm not blaming Taylor Swift or anything, but he's the most commercialized guy, he's won two Super Bowls and he's touring after the Super Bowl. I don't think there's anybody in the league that does more commercials than him. Him and Mahomes are up there. Kelce does more commercials and stuff, he's at events, he's doing the social stuff. You can't keep up that schedule and still put in the same amount of time for football,” McShay said.
Amid growing criticism of Kelce, who looked miserable on the bench during Sunday's game at Atlanta, Mahomes defended him and detailed the tight end's minimal presence in the offense so far.
“The respect that the team has for Travis is unbelievable, and it's well deserved,” Mahomes said as the Chiefs improved to 3-0. “I call a lot of plays for Travis, but I think there are two or three guys that go to him. He gets it. The great thing about him is he wants to impact the game, but ultimately he wants to win.”
The Chiefs will face the Chargers (2-1) in Los Angeles on Sunday.
