Chiefs could use Travis Kelce in shocking role that no one ever expected in 2024

The start of the 2024 NFL regular season is currently precisely two weeks away. The Kansas City Chiefs will play their opening game of the season at Arrowhead Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens, as has become something of a tradition. While the Chiefs added some intriguing new pieces in the summer, the team’s core players—Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and several veterans—will return for a second Super Bowl run on September 5. Naturally, Kelce will start as tight end once more. Will he, however, have a different function in 2024?

Kind of, but not really. He’s still Mahomes’ security blanket and top receiving target, but he’s surprisingly the team’s backup long snapper and could do the job if the starter gets injured. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub admitted as much in a recent interview.

The question wasn’t random; starter James Winchester was briefly injured during the team’s recent preseason game and backup tight end Noah Gray had to fill in for him.

Kelce wasn’t playing by that point in the game, so he wasn’t used in place of Winchester. But if the same thing happens during the regular season, we would likely see Kelce snapping the ball to the holder.