Just because Travis Kelce's efforts aren't showing up on the stats sheet doesn't mean he isn't playing a crucial role in each of the Kansas City Chiefs three games this season.
However, the tight end is coming under a lot of scrutiny and criticism because he only has eight receptions for 69 total yards and no touchdowns.
And Donna Kelce is tired of hearing all of this about the nine-time Pro Bowler.
“It’s tough, it really is,” Donna told PEOPLE. “You know, I don’t think they realize the pressure that people are under, whether they’re athletes or professionals that are in front of the camera. And it's just very difficult, there’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes,”
“You don’t realize how many times people are trying to keep you from catching the ball, or trying to trip you up or hit you… so it's kinda hard when you’ve got people that are in your face 24/7, she added.”
In Sunday night's primetime game, Kelce only had two receptions for four yards in the first half. Even Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged that this was a major problem.
He told NBC at halftime that they needed to get Kelce more involved. And clearly that was also conveyed to the team.
In the Chiefs' first play of the second half, Mahomes located Kelce for a nine yard completion. And then just a few moments later, his pass to the tight end gave the Chiefs an additional 17 yards on their scoring drive.
But there's another thing that people don't think about. They just want to see Kelce catching the ball and getting into the end zone. But football is so much more than that.
Kelce is one of Mahomes' favorite targets. So of course opposing teams are going to put extra coverage on him to ensure that he isn't able to be as effective.
And what he is doing is drawing that coverage away from other weapons, allowing the Chiefs to march down the field.
“I know when they’re out there, they’re giving everything they can," Donna said.
The Chiefs are 3-0, and Kelce deserves credit in each and every one of those wins.
Enough of all this hate.
