Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have failed to build a strong connection on the field in 2024 compared to previous seasons.

Mahomes explained that the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end is not as involved in the passing game because of the extra attention he receives from the defense.

“Yeah, it’s crazy because teams still have — the respect they have for Travis is just unreal,” Mahomes said Sunday, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “It’s well-deserved, but we call a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three guys go to him. So, I mean, he gets it.”

Kelce is averaging just 23 yards per game through the first three weeks of his 2024 season, which would easily be a career low over the course of a full season. After scoring 37 receiving touchdowns over the past four years, he has failed to reach the end zone after three games.

The 34-year-old caught four of his five passes over 30 yards in the Chiefs’ 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Football on Sunday evening.

Kelce took it easy in 2023, recording 984 receiving yards after topping the 1,000-yard mark in every season from 2016 to 2022. In the playoffs, the veteran stepped up his game, averaging 88.8 yards per game and helping Kansas City to its second consecutive Super Bowl victory.

Despite his personal struggles, the Chiefs are still undefeated through three games and appear ready to compete for a championship again. Perhaps Kelce can continue to succeed in the postseason, but his lack of productivity could cause problems for Kansas City if he isn’t as effective in the final stretch of the regular season.