Travis Kelce Reveals How Chiefs Are Staying in the 'Groove' Throughout Lengthy Rest

Kansas City is in the throes of a long layoff.
Travis Kelce after the Chiefs' 29–10 win over the Steelers on Dec. 25, 2024.
Travis Kelce after the Chiefs' 29–10 win over the Steelers on Dec. 25, 2024. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

For as long as sports postseason formats have included byes, humans have been debating whether getting one carries advantages. Do byes provide their recipients with rest or rust? Los Angeles Dodgers and Oregon football fans would provide different answers.

With a divisional-round game against the Houston Texans looming Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs are doing their best to ensure they stay on the "rest" side of that equation—as tight end Travis Kelce detailed on Wednesday's edition of New Heights With Jason and Travis Kelce.

"I've been getting after it. Never too fresh. You gotta keep the wear and tear on the body," Travis said. "You gotta stay in the zone. That's why we were in pads this week."

Travis specifically has not played since Christmas Day, when he caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 29–10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"(Practicing in pads) keeps you in the groove. It keeps you feeling football, having that endurance, that muscle memory that you need to come out and play fast," Travis said.


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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .