Despite down stats, Chiefs’ Travis Kelce says he’s same player

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce said that despite his slow start to the season, he’s the same player he was when he was putting up 1,000-yard seasons earlier in his career.

“I think this year stats may say something different, but at the same time you’ll see the same person inside this building, and that’s all I really care about,” Kelce said. “I’m my own worst critic. Everything outside of this building is just noise.

“I’m fortunate. I’ve had the success in the past and I realized that the ball can’t always go to one person. It can’t always get in my hands, but at the same time, I got all the trust in [Patrick Mahomes] to make the right decision, and he’s been making great decisions. We might not be putting up as [many] points as we want to, but at the same time we’re 3-0 and we’re doing something right.”

Kelce has eight catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns heading into the Kansas City Chiefs’ game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had his tight end record of seven straight 1,000-yard seasons snapped last year, falling 16 yards short when he sat out the final game.

Kelce will turn 35 on Oct. 5 but indicated he’s as capable physically as he ever was.

“I’m ready to rock,” he said.

Without getting much production from Kelce, the Chiefs have turned to other players. Rashee Rice is their leading receiver, backup tight end Noah Gray is averaging four more yards per catch than Kelce, and rookie Carson Steele was their leading rusher in last week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

“I love the way Rashee’s been playing,” Kelce said. “He’s fun to play with and he’s one of my favorite guys in the building. We put more trust in Noah. Great to see him go out there and do the things that he can do and he’s just such a well-rounded player.

“Outside of that, [Steele], too, I think the emergence of guys stepping up to the plate and making plays for us and helping us win ball games I think that’s the most fun so far this year.”

Kelce said opponents are playing softer coverage against the Chiefs this season than they have in previous years. The Chiefs are 14th in the league in yards but seventh in points.

“I think there is a bit of understanding of we’re going to have to keep working and we’re not where we want to be,” he said. “We want to win every single ball game we can and at the same time there’s a sense of urgency throughout the week to get things right for the opponent that we’re playing. And then on top of that, when we’re watching the games in review, we’re just nonstop trying to critique ourselves to get better.”