The Jacksonville Jaguars left the field with frustration, embarrassment, and disappointment Sunday after a 17-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. A few words said by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce during the game only added more irritation in the Jaguars locker room.
“Of course [Kelce]’s a good player, but he’s a little too extra, at times,” Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins told News4Jax. “He gets to disrespecting, he feels like he’s above people. We’re all men out there, let’s just play the game.”
Buy Jaguars TicketsThe Chiefs put the game on ice in the final minutes when Patrick Mahomes connected with Skyy Moore on a 54-yard pass that all but guaranteed the Jaguars wouldn’t get another possession. After that play, both Kelce and Jenkins were called for unnecessary roughness penalties.
Tempers flared some more after the final whistle.
A look from our photographer @photogburk after the Chiefs-Jaguars game involving Travis Kelce and Foyesade Oluokun. Patrick Mahomes, Nick Bolton, Tyson Campbell all playing peace maker. pic.twitter.com/mvjJiG6ub6
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) September 18, 2023
“We’ve got dogs on defense, so a lot of guys are not going for that,” Jaguars safety Andre Cisco told reporters. “If you’re calling the guys names, or whatever the case may be. A little bit of that was going on, so guys just have to step up to the plate and just be like, ‘We’re not backing down.'”
Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun said it was clear that Kelce was visibly frustrated throughout the game, but also said it hurt when the tight end was able to point to the scoreboard in the final minutes.
Kelce, who missed Week 1 due to a knee injury, finished his 2023 debut with four receptions for 26 yards. While he scored a 9-yard touchdown early in the second half, the Jaguars felt pretty good about their performance against the eight-time Pro Bowler.
“The stats speak for themselves,” Jenkins told News4Jax. “What did he have, like 26 yards or something like that? I think they all came from zone coverage. Any time he was matched up with me, I handled my business.”
Last season, Kelce caught 20 passes for 179 yards with three touchdowns in two matchups against the Jaguars.
