DINH DOONG

TRAVIS Kelce’s start to the 2024 season is a major cause for concern.

Star receivers and tight ends have had slow starts in the past.

Travis Kelce is off to a slow start in the 2024 seasonCredit: Getty

Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift has dominated the news instead of his football productionCredit: Getty

But Kelce’s campaign so far is alarming for a number of reasons.

Sunday Night Football under the lights against the Atlanta Falcons last week on the road seemed a perfect stage for Kelce to kick into gear.

But instead he cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines and was held to just four catches for 30 yards.

The tight end isn’t getting any younger, either, and will turn 35 next week.

Tight end is one of the most physical positions in the league and Kelce will find it tough to keep playing at such a high level.

Another alarming trend is that his drop off actually began last season.

Kelce was caught up in a whirlwind with his Taylor Swift romance dominating the attention.

But he ended the year with just five touchdowns – seven fewer than when he dominated in 2022 for the Chiefs.

He also failed to break 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since the 2015 season – his second in the league.

Claims that he has slowed down or is distracted by his relationship definitely have some substance.

But the Chiefs shouldn’t worry about Kelce.

In fact, the first three weeks of the season should serve to help him further into the year.

Defenses will eventually adjust their coverage onto some of Patrick Mahomes’ newer weapons such as Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.

Kelce is putting in a lot of hard yards at the moment, which is helping other guys get open.

Soon, Kelce won’t be seen as the No. 1 threat on the Chiefs offense and opposing teams will start to focus on doubling Rice instead.

That will open up more opportunities for Kelce as the year progresses.

Claims of any friction between Mahomes and Kelce that have surfaced from fans are completely unproven.

Mahomes and Kelce have the deepest bond in the Chiefs locker room and have been through it all together.

When the going gets tougher later in the year – there’s one man the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is looking to more than any to make a play.

Kelce may not reach the heights of his prime years, when he passed 1,000 yards seven seasons straight and had double-digit touchdowns in three of those.

But he is still arguably the best receiving tight end in the league, along with George Kittle, and will have his moments in December and January.

Patrick Mahomes has found other weapons to use on the Chiefs offence outside of Travis KelceCredit: Reuters

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has just 69 yards and zero touchdowns through three games