Patrick Mahomes, the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, has had only one game experience without his tight end Travis Kelce. This happened during a late 2021 season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Kelce was recovering from COVID-19. In that game, Mahomes threw three touchdowns, leading the Chiefs to a 36-10 victory. However, this previous experience isn't very applicable to Mahomes' current situation because the team's roster has seen significant changes since then.
At that time, the Chiefs still had Tyreek Hill as a key player, and their top receiver in that game was Byron Pringle. Both Hill and Pringle are no longer with the team. As the Chiefs prepare to face the Detroit Lions in their upcoming game at Arrowhead Stadium without Kelce due to a knee injury, they enter uncharted territory.
Wide receiver Skyy Moore, one of the players expected to step up in Kelce's absence, is uncertain about how the offense will function without their veteran tight end. He acknowledges the challenge of filling the gap left by a future Hall of Famer but expresses confidence in the team's ability to do their jobs and succeed.
While Mahomes had a statistically impressive game against the Steelers in 2021 without Kelce, his career performance metrics reveal that some key numbers are lower when Kelce is off the field. Mahomes' career QBR, average yards per attempt, and average air yards per pass have all been better with Kelce on the field.
The Chiefs have traditionally favored multiple tight end formations under coach Andy Reid, but they still have the option to utilize this strategy with other tight ends like Noah Gray and Blake Bell on the roster, along with additional options on the practice squad.
However, the team's strength in Kelce's absence may now lie in their deep group of wide receivers, which includes seven players, including Kadarius Toney, who recently returned to practice after an injury during training camp. Throughout his career, Mahomes has demonstrated his ability to adapt to changes in his supporting cast, and this challenge represents a significant adjustment for him as Kelce has been his consistent partner on the field.