Chiefs' Kelce: Heavy workload 'has taken a toll on my body'
Ahead of his 12th NFL campaign, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce acknowledged that the 2023 season was quite draining for him.
"Last year was pretty taxing on my body," Kelce said Saturday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "I've had more snaps than a lot of guys if not everybody in the NFL over the past five, six years, and I'm very prideful of that, but I know it has taken a toll on my body."
Kelce appeared in 15 games last season, playing in 77% (775) of the team's offensive snaps over that span. He was on the field for 899 or more snaps in each campaign from 2018-22.
Despite feeling more physically worn down than normal, the 34-year-old expressed excitement about getting back into action.
"Everybody may say that is pretty grueling, but I enjoy it," Kelce said. "There's something about this place to get you ready every single year, and I'm not going to lie, I got pretty excited as the time started counting down to get out here and get this thing rolling."
As Kansas City prepares to chase its third consecutive Super Bowl win and fourth in six seasons, the four-time first-team All-Pro added: "This is where you really find out what the team is made of."
The 2013 third-round pick has appeared in 159 career contests, tallying 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns on 907 receptions.