Shannon Sharpe Critiques Travis Kelce Following Chiefs' Loss to Eagles
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves winless after two games, and the frustration is palpable among fans and analysts alike.
Following the Chiefs' narrow 20-17 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, Shannon Sharpe directed sharp criticism at star tight end Travis Kelce.
“Kelce has been lazy,” Sharpe stated during his “Nightcap” podcast on September 14. “He’s getting lazy with his head and he’s getting lazy with his eyes. He knows in that area of the field, he has to snap his head. I don’t know why he is so lazy with his head.”
Statistically, Kelce, 35, had a commendable outing, recording four receptions for 61 yards—both leading the team. However, Sharpe, a former tight end himself, pointed out a critical moment where Kelce's performance faltered. An easy catch in front of the end zone slipped through his fingers, resulting in an interception by Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba.
“There is nobody inside, and [Reed] Blankenship has got you manned. Why are you so lazy?” Sharpe continued. “Your head, you have got to snap it around, you know that. And you took points off the board. In other words, you don’t get points and they go down and they get points.”
Sharpe also expressed concern over the lack of offensive support for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “There is nothing special about anybody on that team right now offensively other than Patrick Mahomes,” he remarked.
Kelce has acknowledged the need for improvement. After the Chiefs' season opener loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, he accepted responsibility as a team leader. “I know it’s kinda sounding like a broken record from last year’s Super Bowl, but that’s on us as leaders,” he said on the September 10 episode of his “New Heights” podcast. “I’ll take the most accountability myself. I wasn’t ready that first drive.”
During the second quarter of the recent game, cameras captured Kelce expressing his frustration, yelling “I’m sick of this s***” to teammates. Reports from ESPN’s Nate Taylor indicated that Kelce “launched his helmet on the sideline” and engaged in a heated discussion with head coach Andy Reid.
The Chiefs aim to secure their first victory of the season on Sunday, September 21, as they prepare to face the New York Giants in Sunday Night Football.
