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Travis Kelce becomes Chiefs career receptions leader with 7 catches against Chargers
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Travis Kelce becomes Chiefs career receptions leader with 7 catches against Chargers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Travis Kelce not only showed Sunday that rumors of his death were a bit exaggerated, he also became the Kansas City Chiefs’ career receptions leader.

Kelce had seven receptions for 89 yards as the Chiefs rallied for one 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. With his second catch, he passed Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for the franchise mark.

Kelce declined to speak to reporters in the locker room after the game.

Even Kelce got off to a slow start Statistically, through his first three games this season, in which he made just eight catches for 69 yards, coach Andy Reid didn’t put any extra emphasis on Kelce needing a breakout game.

“I really don’t care what anyone thinks, to be honest,” Reid said. “I look at what the defense does and how they respect him, and then I take it from there. And I watch Trav every day, so I see him how he works, how he never wants to come out in training, in the match. He’s always there, so I don’t worry about that.

Kansas City’s wide receivers also showed their support when they wore custom Kelce T-shirts during pre-game warmups.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who attributed Kelce’s slow start to the extra attention he was getting from opposing defenses, also didn’t lose much sleep over his favorite target’s early lack of reception.

“I mean, the whole Kelce thing in general doesn’t worry me,” Mahomes said. “I know whatever we need, he’s going to make plays. And that’s what he did today.”

The nine-time Pro Bowl tight end made a 38-yard reception on the third play of Kansas City’s opening drive, tying Gonzalez’s record of 916 catches in twelve seasons from 1997 to 2008. Kelce then caught a 5-yard pass on the Chiefs’ fourth drive to seal the victory to break. record early in his own 12th season with the team. He now has 922 receptions.

“They played quite a bit of zone, and Kelce did a good job of just getting through the windows,” Reid said. “When they played man, he could do well there. There wasn’t as much double-teaming as he may have seen or settling on him as much as he may have seen. He did very well.”

Taylor Swift wasn’t at SoFi Stadium to see her boyfriend’s latest feat, who ranks fourth in NFL history in receptions by a tight end. Kelce follows Gonzalez – who finished with 1,325 catches after playing five seasons for Atlanta following his Chiefs career – along with Jason Witten and Antonio Gates.

The veteran may have to play an even bigger role in the champs’ offense after becoming the top receiver Rashee Rice injured his right knee in a collision with Mahomes on an interception return. The play started when Mahomes overthrew Kelce downfield, allowing Kristian Fulton to pick off the pass.

“With Rashee going out, you’ve got to get Kelce back in a situation where he can reel in big catches,” Mahomes said. “The Chargers took some stuff off the outside and left the middle of the field open.”

Kelce, who turns 35 on Saturday, is closing in on two more franchise records in Kansas City.

He has 74 touchdown receptions, behind only Gonzalez’s 77. Kelce’s 77 total touchdowns are seven behind Priest Holmes’ Chiefs record of 84.

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AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy contributed to this report.

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AP N.F.L.: https://apnews.com/NFL