3 Chiefs on Thin Ice After Hard-Fought Win vs. Bengals in Week 17
By Joe Summers
2. Travis Kelce - TE
A meaningless Week 18 game that'll allow Kelce to rest is just what the doctor ordered. He's been struggling for the better part of a month, catching just three catches for 16 yards against the Bengals.
Kelce still needs 16 yards to reach 1,000 for the eighth straight year and I'd guess Andy Reid lets him get at least one drive to extend his streak.
It sure has been a tough path to get to nearly 1,000 yards this time. What was once routine and graceful now looks difficult. Murmors are getting louder about a potential Travis Kelce retirement, though I'm hoping he's not done quite yet.
I cannot decide how I feel about Travis Kelce's Week 18 status.
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) January 1, 2024
He needs rest. NEEDS it. But he's 16 yards short of his 8th straight thousand-yard season. And man, I want that for him badly given the historical context of it.
In order for this Chiefs team to reach the heights we're dreaming of, Kelce's production will need to increase. Rashee Rice's breakout is a massive boost, but there's no replacement for Kelce's chemistry with Mahomes built up over years of big moments.
If Kelce limps to the finish line and into the playoffs, the questions about his future will only grow louder.