By MATT PIKE
Tight end Travis Kelce is entering his 14th season with the Kansas CIty Chiefs. One thing that stays the same though for Kelce, coming to St. Joseph to practice at Missouri Western State University he says, remains his sanctuary.
"I think St. Joe's got a special place in my heart. You need to have these days. You need to have this time of grinding with the guys, being around them all day, every day. You start to create that chemistry and that standard of how we're going to do things," Kelce tells reporters after practice. "This year, it's ramped up even more, especially on the offensive side of the ball. It feels good to have the leaders out there all feeling the same thing.”
Kelce says he still has a lot of love for the game, and believes he can play at a high level, his big goal coming back for a 14th season to prove to himself that he can play at a better level than he did last season in all aspects of the game.
"Being more accountable when the ball is in the air. There were a few games last year that I felt like I put on myself. In the blocking world, being able to get my guys so we can spring guys for bigger gains. And then on top of that, just being a better leader," Kelce explains. "When we get stuck with adversity hidden, who's going to want you in that foxhole with (them)? And that's one of those things that I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on to be there and get us out of that foxhole.”
Kelce caught 76 passes for 851 yards last year with just five touchdowns, after recording just three in 2024. Despite the career lows, Kelce still led the Chiefs in targets, receptions, yards, touchdowns, and receiving first downs last season. There were some crucial mistakes however, dropping passes from Patrick Mahomes that led to interceptions that cost Kansas City some key games.
In a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs were just six yards away from taking a lead early in the fourth quarter, but Kelce dropped a quick pass near the goal line, the ball bouncing off his hands and into the arms of rookie safety Andrew Mukuba. Another happened in the final minutes of the Chiefs' loss to the Houston Texans, Kelce dropped the ball on back-to-back snaps, the second becoming an interception that ended Kansas City's chance at a comeback.
Since signing a one-year, $12 million contract with a maximum value of $15 million in March, the four-time All Pro tight end has been a constant presence, whether during the Chiefs' offseason program or during training camp. He continues to showcase his usual receiving skills in the practices at MoWest but has also put an emphasis on making contested catches.
On top of Kelce working to improve, A national champion last season who went undrafted in this past season’s draft never had a doubt he would get his opportunity, and is cashing in on it with the Chiefs during this year's Training Camp.
Rookie tackle Khalil Benson is challenging veteran Jaylon Moore for the right tackle job this season, and has been catching people’s eyes during Training Camp in St. Joseph
Benson says he never doubted he would get an opportunity, and being given a chance at a job in the NFL has been good
"I mean I know coming in here you're going to be having those kinds of eyes on you and everything, but being a football player you're going to have a lot of fans looking at you and you've got to get used to it," Benson says. "Just being able to work and continue to work and being consistent in what you're doing I feel like that's the biggest thing, so it was honestly a good thing."
Benson is currently listed as the backup right tackle to Jaylon Moore. He’s also been taking reps at right guard with an injury to Trey Smith, preparing to play anywhere along the line if needed by the Chiefs.
One more practice this week before Saturday’s preseason game. It will be a lighter practice tomorrow, which begins at 9:15am.
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