The Kansas City Chiefs have had a successful start to their Super Bowl title defense. Now 2-0 following a last-second win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Andy Reid‘s team is dreaming big once again. But it hasn’t been the cleanest start.

The team has suffered two major injuries at wide receiver and running back. Patrick Mahomes has already thrown three interceptions through two games. Perhaps the most shocking development, though, has been Travis Kelce‘s lack of involvement in the offense. The superstar tight end has just four receptions and 40 total yards so far.

Travis Kelce playing more of a supporting role for Chiefs

On the most recent episode of his podcast with brother Jason Kelce, “New Heights”, Travis delved into his slow start and conceded that he has changed his mentality over the years.

I’m not about to sit here and get frustrated about it. I used to get really pissed off and almost lose my cool a lot of the time, from not having that success knowing that I demand that from myself… I stopped caring about stats about 4 or 5 years ago and I just went out there and started to play free and wanted to play for my guys. Sure enough, I think that’s a better mentality, you think about it more play by play and what your job is on that specific play… Moving forward it’s just, ‘how can I be better in those moments? What’s the issue, am I not getting out of my route fast enough?’

In a way, it sounds like Kelce has come to terms with no longer being the “main guy” within the Chiefs offense. Kelce is not being asked, at least not through the first two games, to be the target hog and the one carrying the passing offense.

Instead, Kelce is used for specific purposes, which could be blocking on run plays or jet sweeps or sporadic pass plays. He also seems to understand he’s not as spry as he once was, but he does believe he will get better as the season progresses.

“Typically, you see these kinds of games earlier on and then you just keep trying to get better and better and more accountable for the guys around you”.