Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s first business trip of the 2024 NFL season is underway as the Kansas City Chiefs arrived in Jacksonville for their first preseason exhibition.
The three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end sported a beige silk shirt, a black hat and his new mustache as he headed to Jaguar Football Stadium.
Meanwhile, Mahomes wore his usual sunglasses and a collared shirt adorned with the team’s logo in red.
To commemorate the occasion, the Chiefs’ social media account tagged Kelce as “Summer Trav” and Mahomes as “Polo Pat.”
The game comes after Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, and her fans faced terrorism threats in Austria this week.
The photo of Mahomes’ arrival in Jacksonville was adorned with the Oakley sunglasses logo.
The three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end sported a beige silk shirt.
Austrian authorities announced a third arrest in connection with a foiled plot to attack three now-cancelled Swift concerts on Friday, as disappointed fans delighted Vienna by exchanging friendship bracelets and singing the pop star’s songs in the streets.
The prime suspect, a 19-year-old, planned to use knives or homemade explosives to attack spectators who would gather outside the Ernst Happel stadium (up to 30,000 each night, and another 65,000 inside) during the concert on Thursday or Friday. The suspect hoped to “kill as many people as possible,” authorities said.
A 15-year-old boy was also questioned but not detained. Their names were not released, in line with Austrian privacy rules.
Swift is still scheduled to travel to London’s Wembley Stadium for five shows between August 15 and 20 to close out the European leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Back in Jacksonville, Kelce and Mahomes are expected to see some action against the Jaguars on Saturday night.
“One in one quarter, two in the second quarter, three in the third quarter, four in the fourth quarter,” head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday of how he plans to split playing time against the Jaguars. “We’ll stick with that.”
Reid’s philosophy on preseason preparation perhaps contrasts with that of many teams when it comes to preseason games.
It has become common to see some of the NFL’s biggest stars, especially at the starting quarterback position, not playing in any of the exhibition games.
Reid, however, prefers his players get some live action.
“I allow them to adapt to the circumstances,” Reid said. “The ones that know how to do it, on both sides of the floor, know how to do it. At some point they have to come up and shoot, and that gives them the opportunity to do it.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is pleased with the playing time he’s receiving against the Jaguars.
But don’t be surprised if Mahomes is sidelined after a series or two.
Kelce was all smiles as he was spotted on cameras heading into the stadium.
Mahomes played a total of six snaps in the 2023 preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints. In total, he played 11 snaps against the Chicago Bears in 2022 and four snaps against the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
The lack of playing time in late summer doesn’t bother Mahomes, who joked that he doesn’t mind taking a hit from a defender during the preseason.
“I always want to get hit, but I don’t want to get hit hard,” Mahomes said. “So if I can throw the ball and one of those defensive ends wants to give me a little push, that’s all I need, so it’s good.
“I like playing in the preseason, honestly. Going in there, trying to make sure we’re doing things right and going out there, trying to keep everyone healthy.”
Mahomes’ comments about execution and injury prevention are what the Chiefs hope to accomplish in Jacksonville.
When it comes to the former, the Chiefs want to evaluate players competing for a starting job or a roster spot.
And that game is their first moment to show what they can do.
“I love watching all these young guys compete,” Reid said. “The higher the draft picks, the more likely they are to have more competition, so I want to see how they handle themselves.”
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo agreed with Reid.
“I’d like to see the guys who haven’t been there very long,” Spagnuolo said. “You know, all the young guys, obviously.
“I mean, I told them in the meeting that the guys I’ve been around and that are here, I know who’s tough and who’s fake. I mean, I’m trying to figure out if the guys are tough enough to play in this league and do the things we need to do.”