Andy Reid openly expresses his feelings about Travis Kelce’s performances after the Chiefs sign a new tight end .Giang

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has come to Travis Kelce’s defense after the tight end’s slow start to the 2024 NFL season – only to reunite with former tight end Jody Fortson shortly after.

The nine-time Pro Bowler found himself under heavy scrutiny due to his lack of production in the first three weeks of the new campaign. Some have linked the slump to his relationship with Taylor Swift and the public attention it attracts.

Others suggested that the NFL star, who turns 35 next week, is simply beginning to feel the impact of his battle against Father Time. Kelce has caught just eight passes on 12 targets for 69 receiving yards since the 2024 season kick-off.

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But Reid is not bothered by his star’s underwhelming numbers. “I know people are saying that he is old or whatever, has distractions and all this [but] the defenses don’t think that,” the Chiefs head coach said earlier this week, via ESPN.

“We have another receiver [Rashee Rice] that plays opposite him that has a lot of yards and catches and that’s how this thing goes. He works his tail off and he hasn’t lost his step and all those things and he’s not distracted.

“That’s not the case. People are making sure they have him taken care of by some of these defenses.” At the same time, the Chiefs are making sure they have alternatives at the tight end position while Kelce is trying to bounce back.

Kansas City signed Fortson to the practice squad on Thursday, per Chiefs beat writer Matt Derrick. The New York native, who spent five years with the team after going undrafted in 2019, replaced rookie tight end Baylor Cupp, who’d been put on the injured list.

The move comes a month after the back-to-back Super Bowl champs traded for Dallas Cowboys tight end Peyton Hendershot. Since then, Hendershot has been waived and signed to their practice squad, too.

The Chiefs approach the Week 4 clash against the Los Angeles Chargers with Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley as active tight ends on their 53-man roster. Kelce appeared to be in a particularly bad mood after Sunday’s 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons, which Swift did not attend.

The Chiefs star finished the game with four catches but racked up only 30 receiving yards – as the number of his team’s offensive snaps he played dipped to 77 percent. But a few days later, the Ohio native suggested his slow start to the season doesn’t keep him up at night.

“I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man,” Kelce said on his New Heights podcast. I’m not worried about the catches and the yards, and all of that, I have the most fun when I get the ball thrown my way, I mean, who doesn’t?

“It has everything to do with execution and just making sure we’re doing everything we can to win these football games, that’s always going to be the goal.” Kelce added: “Moving forward, still trying to make sure I can help the team out in that regard knowing I’ve been that weapon for us in the past.

“Moving forward, everyone’s just tweaking their game in the right direction.”