Travis Kelce hails Noah Gray as competition for TE intensifies in Kansas City

Travis Kelce has had both hands on the starting role for the Kansas City Chiefs since Peyton Manning was still in his division. However, Father Time comes for everyone, usually in the form of a new up-and-comer that overtakes the starter. While that hasn't happened yet in Kansas City, Noah Gray is doing his best.

Kelce praised him in Wednesday's edition of the "New Heights" podcast. He even went so far as to encourage him to get more looks.

"I can't say enough about the teammate he is, the guy he is, the professionalism when he walks in the building. He's in it wholeheartedly. All of his focus is on one goal, and that's to make the team better... I've been saying it for the past two, three years. I think we need to get him more incorporated in the offense," he said (16:20).

Noah Gray had his season-best game on Sunday, racking up four receptions for 66 yards. It also was his second two-touchdown performance in as many weeks. The question is whether Gray's new role is a move to misdirect defenses to get Kelce open later in the season when it matters most or whether Mahomes has a new favorite red zone target.

Noah Gray doubles Travis Kelce's production in one key area

Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers - Source: Imagn

The Chiefs tight end room is only a two-man unit right now due to injuries to Peyton Hendershot and Jared Wiley. However, it still is deep in terms of talent between the two tight ends.

Travis Kelce leads the two in terms of targets, receptions and receiving yards. However, in perhaps the most important category on the stat sheet, Gray has doubled Kelce in caught touchdown passes. Kelce has earned just two scores while Gray has earned four.

All four of those have come in the past two games, so the development is relatively new for the team.

That said, change has been a constant for the Chiefs at the skill positions this season. Between DeAndre Hopkins and Kareem Hunt's additions and Juju Smith-Schuster and Isiah Pacheco's injuries, it has been an almost random drawing to see who Mahomes will have on a month-to-month basis. Could a change be happening in the tight-end room?

If any of the above quotes are used, credit "New Heights," and H/T Sportskeeda.