How Chiefs Can Rejuvenate Kelce During Rice Suspension

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – During their whirlwind 48 hours in Brazil this week, the Chiefs might want to squeeze in a quick spelunking excursion for Travis Kelce. The rejuvenating waters inside at least one South American cave have been called a modern-day fountain of youth.

Other than long-snapper James Winchester, 36, Kelce is by far the oldest player on Kansas City’s 53-man roster. The future Hall of Famer, enters the season in the last month of his age-35 trip around the sun. He turns 36 only one month after the Chiefs kick off their season Friday against the Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil (7 p.m. CT, YouTube, KSHB-TV 41, 96.5 The Fan).

The next-oldest player on the Kansas City roster is another tight end, 31-year-old Robert Tonyan. And load-managing Kelce, including his snap count, is critical during Rashee Rice’s six-game hiatus, according to ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes.

“Which is what makes the Rice suspension so challenging for Kansas City,” she said Friday on NFL Live, “because I think the ideal version of this offense is one in which they can lessen Kelce’s workload from what we saw last year.”

Kimes said that without Rice in 2024, Xavier Worthy was the Chiefs’ answer for man coverage, especially in the second half of last season.

Filling Rice's void in zone coverage

And when Kansas City faces zone coverage, something they’re expected to see in Week 1 against the Chargers, the Chiefs won’t be able to split targets between Kelce and Rice. Someone like JuJu Smith-Schuster or, when he returns, rookie Jalen Royals will have to fill that void for Rice.

Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice — Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce (87) after a play during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

“They're a zone team,” head coach Andy Reid said Sunday, asked about the Chargers and their league-low 17.1 points per game in 2024, “but the zones are tight, and they have a bunch of different combinations. Plus, they can play man, and they do that well.

“But their zones, they do a heck of a job with that. So, you can see why they were ranked so high. And they're going to try not to give up the big play, obviously, but at the same time, be able to attack underneath.”

Isiah Pacheco, Travis Kelce — Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates with running back Isiah Pacheco (10) after making a long pass reception against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Rejuvenate the ground game, too

Kimes said one way to help lessen Rice’s void is to get more from Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt on the ground. The Chargers, who lost their starting nose tackle Poona Ford in free agency, ranked just 14th in the league in 2024 with 117.5 rushing yards allowed per game.

“The Chiefs offense is going to use a lot of two-, three-tight-end sets,” she said, “and if they can run the ball, I think they can get Kelce favorable matchups, create space for him to work underneath, and not put too much pressure on him to be what he was earlier in his career.”

What he was earlier in his career is likely to show up if the Chiefs can enjoy the deep-ball success they had in the preseason finale, something woefully missing from their attack in 2024. Kelce begins what could be his 13th and final NFL season on Friday.

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