The most pleasant surprise of the afternoon belonged to tight end Noah Gray, who hauled in all three of his targets for 39 yards, including
a well-contested 24-yard reception that required him to go up and fight for the football. It was the first time since November 2024 that Gray topped 39 receiving yards, and it was a welcome sight for a player on his second contract who has been searching for consistency.
Matt Derrick·
Gray was one of the busiest and most productive targets on the field. He adjusted to a back-shoulder throw by stopping sharply and securing the pass after his defender turned away from Mahomes. Gray later worked into the back of the end zone while Mahomes rolled outside the pocket, giving the quarterback an available target after the play extended. His best route came over the middle: Gray initially presented outside leverage and used his head movement to sell an outside break before cutting vertically inside once the linebacker moved. The route created a one-on-one opportunity and resulted in another significant catch. Gray’s high number of reps and targets showed that his role was expanding, especially when Kelce was off the field.
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