KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No one should be surprised that the first significant team-period repetition for the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their 2024 season — which came Tuesday morning in the opening session of minicamp — resulted in quarterback Patrick Mahomes completing a pass to tight end Travis Kelce, who found the appropriate space to be open against zone coverage.
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The unusual part occurred once the rep ended: Kelce jogging off the field and returning to the sideline.
One reason Kelce has become the league’s best tight end and a future Hall of Famer is that he hates not being on the field, whether in practice, a regular-season game or the Super Bowl. Kelce, though, is no longer in his prime at age 34.
Tuesday served as the first opportunity for the Chiefs and Kelce to work toward finding the right balance to elongate his career as much as possible, whether that’s limiting his practice reps or even slightly reducing his snaps in games in the upcoming season.
“It’s my job to make sure coach (Andy) Reid has full confidence in me, whenever he needs me on the field, that I get my job done,” Kelce said. “As much as I want to be out there every single play, I understand that it’s for the betterment of the team when I’m not. I’ve had to kind of understand that over the past couple of years.”
87 days until we back in action. pic.twitter.com/a9gxaYEe0V
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 11, 2024
The biggest example for Kelce came the last time he played in pads, when the Chiefs in February found themselves trailing the San Francisco 49ers for much of Super Bowl LVIII. Reid did his best to limit Kelce’s snaps in the first half, believing his tight end could be most valuable for Mahomes and the offense after the game’s longer-than-usual halftime.
Early in the second quarter, Reid removed Kelce from the field, replacing him with backup tight end Noah Gray. The play ended with running back Isiah Pacheco fumbling the ball inside the red zone, the Chiefs’ first giveaway. Kelce responded to the play by screaming at Reid, even bumping the coach while shouting five words repeatedly: “Give me the f—ing ball!”
Reid’s plan, though, proved to be a wise one. In the second half and overtime, Kelce recorded a team-high eight receptions on nine targets for 92 yards, which helped the Chiefs rally from a 10-point deficit to win their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
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“I think if you manage Travis the right way, there’s still good production there,” Reid said in late February during the NFL combine. “I would be the first one to tell him if I didn’t think there was. We have to manage him the right way. The older the guys get, you can’t be in there every rep. I know you want to be, but you can’t. But you’re going to have a great fourth quarter, right?”
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Kelce didn’t confront Reid on his reps — or lack thereof — in Tuesday’s practice. Instead, Kelce proved he’s still the Chiefs’ best receiving option when he was on the practice field alongside Mahomes.
By planning to give Kelce a lighter workload, Reid is optimistic that the Chiefs’ longest-tenured player will not have to persevere through as many obstacles as he encountered last season.
In the final practice before last year’s season opener, Kelce hyperextended his right knee, a non-contact injury that forced him to miss a game for the first time since 2014. Without Kelce, the Chiefs lost 21-20 to the Detroit Lions. In Week 5, he sustained a low ankle sprain, a non-contact injury in a win against the Vikings in Minnesota.
Almost every opponent the Chiefs faced in the second half of the season used the same tactic: They dedicated two defenders — sometimes three — to covering Kelce, denying him the space he often uses to adjust or improvise his route. His production declined over the second half of the season, too, as his ability to evade defenders or break tackles decreased.
But in the postseason, after a week of rest in the regular-season finale, Kelce elevated his game, generating 32 receptions for 355 yards and three touchdowns during the Chiefs’ memorable four-game run.
“The odds of someone playing this far into their 30s are very low, but it does happen,” general manager Brett Veach said of Kelce in late April. “It happens with just unicorns in the profession, and Travis is one of those. He’s shown no signs of slowing down. Everyone noticed the kind of postseason he had. He just found an extra gear. These special players are always able to find that extra gear. If anybody can do it, Travis can.”
Year 12 already?! 🏹 @tkelce pic.twitter.com/XbYHPzhVVc
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 10, 2024
Earlier this offseason, Kelce signed a new two-year contract with the Chiefs, making him the highest-paid tight end for the first time in his 11-year career. The new deal, which runs through the 2025 season, is set to pay Kelce $17 million fully guaranteed this year. His $17.25 million salary in 2025 is mostly guaranteed, according to a league source.
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Kelce’s extension with the Chiefs appeared to be the first indication that he could retire after the 2025 season.
“I really can’t put a timeframe on (retirement),” Kelce said. “Obviously, I know there’s opportunities outside of football for me. You have to keep in perspective that I’m still a little kid when I come into this building, man. I know I’m 34 years old, but I have a love to do this right here, in the middle of the heat in June.
“I love coming to work every single day. I’m going to do it until the wheels fall off. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen anytime soon. I can definitely understand that it’s toward the end of the road (more) than it is the beginning of it.”
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Kelce acknowledged this week that he’s more comfortable with having fewer reps in practice because of the number of talented skill-position players Veach and Reid acquired this offseason. The Chiefs’ biggest acquisition in free agency was signing receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year deal. In the draft, the Chiefs selected receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Jared Wiley.
Brown got a surprise Tuesday during the seven-on-seven period. Noticing an opportunity to have fun in the middle of the field, Kelce caught a pass from Mahomes and then lateraled the ball toward Brown, who wasn’t ready for it.
“The dude just loves to practice,” linebacker Drue Tranquill said of Kelce. “That’s just uncommon, his energy. He’s vocal. I hinged covering him on an over route and he’s saying, ‘Man, great job on that coverage. What did you see?’ Little aspects of the game still strike his curiosity, and he’s always looking to become better.
“You don’t always see that when guys are as great as he is and have accomplished as much as he’s accomplished. There tends to be some complacency that creeps in. You don’t see that with Travis.”
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Of course, Kelce understands the biggest test for him will be when the Chiefs are in a tight game and he’s not on the field as often as usual, which in the past has been around 80 percent of the snaps. His message to Reid on Tuesday was to continue what the Chiefs have always done since he became one of their best players: Rely on him to come through.
“Wear and tear me, baby,” Kelce said, smiling. “I’m ready for it, man. Put the load on me. I love being accountable for the men and women in this building and Chiefs Kingdom. I love the aspect of everybody counting on me to try and make that play for the team.”
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Quick hits
• In the compelling competition at left tackle, rookie Kingsley Suamataia appears to be ahead in the race against second-year player Wanya Morris. Suamataia, whom the Chiefs selected with a second-round pick, played the majority of the reps with the projected starters. In the first team period, Suamataia did well to stay in front of defensive end George Karlaftis. But in the second team period, Karlaftis increased his speed rush to get around Suamataia, the rep ending with Mahomes having to scramble out of the pocket. A couple of reps later, Suamataia responded well, stonewalling defensive end Mike Danna. When Morris had his turn, he performed adequately.
Did we just become best friends?!@KingSuamataia x @Griffin_mcdow62 pic.twitter.com/BdrY7NpQkM
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 11, 2024
• Kelce’s lone mistake Tuesday came when he dropped a pass from Mahomes after running an intermediate route. The ball bounced up in the air and three-year safety Bryan Cook was in position to make the interception. For the first time this offseason, Cook was a full participant in every period, a positive sign following his rehab after he sustained a season-ending injury to his left ankle in early December. The Chiefs expect Cook to fully participate in training camp to retain his starting role.
“Man, I love B-Cook, how he’s handled the adversity, in terms of the injury,” Kelce said. “He’s an absolute stud of a professional and a player. You can just see him getting better and better every single snap. It’s because of his mindset and how he approaches life. I just love that dude.”
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• One of Mahomes’ best passes during the first team period came when he executed a no-look completion to Wiley, who was running across the field. In the seven-on-seven period inside the red zone, Mahomes threw a perfect lob pass to Wiley (6-foot-6, 249 pounds), who outjumped cornerback Joshua Williams (6-3, 193 pounds) for a touchdown in the front corner of the end zone.
“Wiley is doing a great job,” Kelce said. “He’s got a lot of upside. He’s a smart guy and I would say he’s a lot further along than I was as a rookie, in terms of just understanding the offense and really seeing the field. … It’s fun to watch him take off.”
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• Tuesday’s practice featured 86 players on the 91-man roster. Worthy (strained left hamstring), left guard Joe Thuney (recovering from a pectoral injury), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (recovering from an elbow injury) and defensive ends Charles Omenihu (recovering from a torn right ACL) and BJ Thompson (resting after being released from the hospital Monday night after cardiac arrest) didn’t participate.
(Photo: Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
