Travis Kelce‘s slower start this season has generated plenty of theories, from his growing podcasting and entertainment interests to his relationship with Taylor Swift. However, the simplest and most likely explanation is that Kelce is feeling the effects of a physically demanding position as he enters his 12th season at age 34.

During the 2023 season, he experienced some ups and downs including a slow start, a midseason resurgence and another dip toward the end of the regular season, aside from a few breakout games against the Bills and Raiders.

However, when the playoffs came around, Kelce delivered at his usual elite level, proving he could still be a clutch performer.

This year could unfold in a similar fashion. Although Kelce may not be the guaranteed go-to target he once was, his connection with Patrick Mahomes remains a cornerstone of the Chiefs‘ offense, making him dangerous in any game situation.

While he might not make as many routine plays, his big-play potential and ability to exploit defenses still make him a key asset.

Reid’s confidence in Kelce

As Kansas City brings along a younger crop of receivers and leans on Noah Gray to share some of Kelce’s workload, his stats will likely decrease, much to the dismay of fantasy football enthusiasts. But when the postseason hits, Kelce is still the guy Mahomes will trust when the game is on the line, and he has more than enough left in the tank to be a game-changer.

“I know people are saying that he’s old or that he has distractions, but defenses don’t think that,” his coach Andy Reid said recently.

“Trav is fine. He just keeps being Trav. He works his tail off. He hasn’t lost a step. He’s not distracted. [Defenses] are making sure he’s taken care of.”