4 nightmare scenarios for the Chiefs offense in 2023
Zeus looks more like a man than a god
The only thing that has made Travis Kelce look human in an athletic setting in recent memory was his attempt to toss out the first pitch in a recent game for the Cleveland Guardians. While he may not have thrown a perfect strike on that attempt, Kelce has been a picture of consistency for the Kansas City Chiefs since being drafted back in 2013.
Kelce's seven consecutive seasons with 1,000+ yards receiving count as one of the eight records he holds among tight ends in NFL history. He is second in both receiving yards and touchdowns in postseason history among all players, not just tight ends. His performances in both the regular and postseasons as a Chief have assured him a spot in Canton exactly 5 years after he decides to hang up his cleats.
Just last week, Kelce said he would keep playing "until the wheels fall off" when asked about his potential retirement. While this is something to certainly get excited about as a Chiefs fan, it's also something that should prompt your brain to wonder when exactly those wheels might fall off. Kelce looked as good as ever in 2022, leading the Chiefs in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He was 8th in the entire NFL in receiving yards and 2nd in touchdowns, again compard to wideouts, not just tight ends. But Kelce will be 34 years old shortly after he begins his 11th season in the league and with the Chiefs. The average tight end career span in the NFL? 2.85 years.
Kelce is without question an anomaly, a player who has time and time again defeated his opponents on the field with jaw-dropping, clutch plays and defeated the biggest adversary of all time. But how much longer can that go on? There have been numerous times over the course of the past two seasons when whispers around the Kingdom about Kelce's health have grown louder and louder. Whether it's been shoulder issues, back issues, or hip issues, there have been times in recent memory when Kelce has appeared uncomfortable out there on the field, but his performance has not truly been impacted to date.
Kelce was once again Patrick Mahomes' top target a year ago. In fact, there was only one week in 2022 (Week 5 vs. the Raiders) where Kelce accounted for less than 20% of Mahomes targets in a game. He accounted for 25.5% of Mahomes passing yards, 29.3% of his passing touchdowns, and 25.3% of his completions. If Father Time were to catch up with Travis Kelce in 2023, the Chiefs would be missing over 1/4 of their passing production from their Super Bowl run in 2022, from just one player.