FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 17: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Not that it should shock anybody, but Travis Kelce’s latest struggles on the field have absolutely nothing to do with Taylor Swift, his girlfriend of several months now.

Kelce’s relationship with the Grammy Award-winning singer has received non-stop media attention in recent months. The 34-year-old Swift has attended several Kansas City Chiefs games this year, including the club’s Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Some fans are trying to convince themselves (and others) that Swift has become a distraction for Kelce. But Kelce’s trainer, Andrew Spruill, poured colder water over the ridiculous rumor during an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

Spruill cited Kelce’s injuries and the Chiefs’ new offense as reasons why Kelce isn’t putting up his usual jaw-dropping numbers this season:
“He started off hurt and missed game one. Two days before the game, he hyperextended his knee at practice. He started off already on an injured note to where he’s never dealt with. He’s been as healthy as you can be for an NFL player for his career. Rookie year he missed but hadn’t missed a game until this year.

That, plus a new offense, and receivers they have, it hasn’t come together as it was expected to. It definitely put a damper on his typical production.”
Kelce is 32 yards away from his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season, even though he missed the Chiefs’ opening game. That said, the 10.8 yards per catch he’s averaged this season mark a career low, and the 69.1 yards per game he averages are his lowest since 2015.

“Tell him to go watch that game, we TOOK that game.”

Raiders cornerback Jack Jones responds to Travis Kelce’s comments that the Chiefs gave away the Christmas Day game.

🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/48nlIYnO2E

— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) December 29, 2023

Kelce has gone five straight games now without a touchdown, and he has just 72 total receiving yards over his last two contests.

Nonetheless, Kelce remains far-and-away the best tight end in the game right now. The fact 2023 is considered a “down year” for the future Hall of Famer goes to show just how special of a player he is.