Kansas City star tight end Travis Kelce has seen a decline over the past couple of seasons. However, despite reduced production, the drop-off seems to have stalled, as Kelce has bounced back in 2025, primed to surpass his receiving total from 2024 with four weeks left in the season.
However, he’s gotten off to a slow start against the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football in Week 14. Here’s a look at Kelce’s no-show so far.
What Happened to Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce?
No, Kelce is not injured; despite being a reliable presence for quarterback Patrick Mahomes yet again in 2025, he’s had trouble. Through the first quarter of the Chiefs’ Sunday night matchup against the Texans in Week 14, Kelce has yet to be targeted.
Despite two lower yardage totals the past few weeks, Kelce was able to find the end zone against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in Week 13. This came two weeks after a nice outing against the Denver Broncos in Week 12, catching nine of 13 targets for 91 yards and another touchdown. On the season, he’s leading the Chiefs’ receivers with 719 yards on 59 receptions. He also has five touchdowns.
While he’s had a rough night on the field, Kelce was revealed to be the Chiefs’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. All 32 teams nominate a player for the award that honors a player’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact, along with excellence on the field.
A message from the Chiefs Walter Payton Man of the Year, Travis Kelce #ChiefsKingdom #wpmoy pic.twitter.com/nH2tY0Gx0q
— McKenzie Nelson (@McKenzieMNelson) December 8, 2025
Despite the 6-6 season for Kansas City, they have some solid units on offense and defense. The offense leads the team as usual, with Mahomes continuing to will this team to wins at times. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the Chiefs have the fifth-best offense in the NFL with an impact score of 85.5. The defense hasn’t been as good, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, ranking 13th with an impact score of 77.5.
Kelce has absolutely improved from an off 2024. He was outside the top-ten a year ago, ranking 11th in the NFL in PFSN’s TE Impact metric with an impact score of 79.5. He brought that score up five points, along with his ranking going up to sixth this season.
It’s been a tough night for the Chiefs’ offense, but they are only down by three as the defense has had their back against the Texans. However, they are going to need the offense to wake up if they want to prevail and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.Â
