Travis Kelce rises to the occasion, receiving commendation from Patrick Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes praised Travis Kelce for rising to the occasion after the Kansas City Chiefs faced another significant injury setback to their already thin offense.
Kelce’s performances this season have faced criticism, with some fans attributing his struggles to the distractions of being in a high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. Heading into the Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, he had managed just eight catches for 69 yards.
With wide receiver Rashee Rice potentially sidelined with a torn ACL after a collision with Mahomes, the Chiefs had to rely heavily on the 34-year-old Kelce during the game. Rice was carted off the field with a towel over his face, joining Hollywood Brown and Isiah Pacheco as key players out injured.
Despite being undermanned, the Chiefs secured a 17-10 victory, thanks in part to Kelce, Xavier Worthy, and veteran running back Kareem Hunt.
“The guys stepped up to fill Rashee’s role, which is a significant one,” Mahomes said. “We just need to get back to basics and create opportunities for everyone to succeed.”
With Rice’s early exit, Mahomes emphasized the importance of getting Kelce involved more frequently. The Chargers’ defense focused on outside plays, allowing opportunities in the middle of the field for Kelce.
“I’m not worried about Kelce; I know he’ll come through when we need him, and he did just that today,” Mahomes added.
Kelce had an impressive game with seven catches for 89 yards, becoming the franchise leader in receptions. Meanwhile, Hunt, playing his first game for the Chiefs in six years, rushed for 69 yards.
“He runs tough and is hard to tackle,” Mahomes noted. “For someone to come back into an offense after years and perform well is impressive. It’s great to see him contribute, especially while Isiah is out.”
