Blaine Gabbert, the backup Chiefs quarterback who will replace Patrick Mahomes this weekend, has vowed to help Travis Kelce reach 1,000 yards for the eighth straight season – as long as the tight end is on the field.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid will sit some key players for the final game of the regular season against the Chargers in Los Angeles, allowing them to rest and avoid injury before the playoffs. Mahomes is one of the stars who will stay in Kansas City and it is not yet clear whether Kelce will travel for the game. But if he does, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend is just 16 yards away from the landmark figure.
‘The best part of the culture we have here is that there’s a lot of selfless individuals,’ Gabbert said at a press conference. ‘I know Travis is 16 yards away from 1,000. We all know that but that’s not how Trav plays. He wants team success first. He’s always been that way. He genuinely loves football. ‘If he wants to play, he’ll play. If Coach Reid says have him rest, he’s gonna rest. Ultimately that’s on Coach Reid, but if we’re out there we’re going to do our damn best to get him 17 yards.’
‘It’ll be a lot of fun, he’s got a big string of 1,000-yard seasons in a row, no tight end has even come close to that. He may say it doesn’t mean anything but it means something to the quarterback and for the organization to get him to 1,000 yards.’ To put Kelce’s feat into context Rob Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez both only had four seasons over 1,000 yards in their careers. Kelce’s record being in touching distance also comes despite missing the first game of the season – a loss to Detroit Lions – through injury.
The Chiefs wrapped up the AFC West on New Year’s Eve with a 25-17 win over the Bengals, confirming a home game for the Wild Card round of the playoffs next week.
