How Giants are approaching critical challenge of covering Travis Kelce

The numbers are not there through two games this season, but Tyler Nubin is not buying what anyone is selling about the diminishment of Travis Kelce as an elite player. 

Nubin, the second-year Giants safety, figures to get a shot at covering the future Hall of Fame tight end Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.

Kelce, 35, has just six receptions in the Chiefs’ 0-2 start.

Nubin, 24, is not interested in the meager numbers. 

“He’s a savvy vet, and he can get open against any coverage,’’ Nubin told The Post. “He’s super smart. He and Patrick [Mahomes] are always on the same page it seems like. He’s going to run something that’s probably unorthodox in the route tree, but Patrick’s going to put it right on him because they’re right on cue with each other. It’s going to be awesome to go against him.’’ 

There is no denying Kelce is past his prime.

He caught 97 passes last season but for just 823 yards, his fewest since 2013 when he played only one game as a rookie.

Kelce does have a touchdown catch this season after scoring just three times in 16 games in 2024. 

Nubin wanted no part of hearing that Kelce is not the same physically as he once was. 

“He just knows how to get open,’’ Nubin said. “It’s not going to be your typical out-routes. It’s going to be out, pivot, turn up the field, stop, probably get open and the balls going to find him. He knows how to read coverages.’’ 

Nubin is coming off a remarkable display of endurance.

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He played all 89 snaps on defense in the 40-37 overtime loss to the Cowboys and 17 more on special teams for a total of 106 snaps.

He said the last time he topped 100 snaps in a game was when he was a two-way player back in high school in Illinois. 

“It was fun,’’ Nubin said. “I honestly didn’t realize it was that until after the game. When you’re in it you don’t actually feel that you are going that long. I probably could have gone longer. I’m young man, I’m going to be good.’’ 

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It seems as if the Giants are confident Gunner Olszewski will be healthy enough to handle the kickoff and punt returns Sunday night, as on Saturday, they waived Xavier Gipson, who was picked up earlier in the week after the Jets let him go.

Olszewski is listed as questionable with a back issue. 

The Giants added three players from their practice squad, signing OLB Tomon Fox and elevating DL Elijah Garcia and LB Neville Hewitt. 

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Strange but true: The Chiefs have won in every NFL team’s home stadium — except the Giants.

The Chiefs are 0-7 in road games against the Giants.

This does not mean the Chiefs are winless in New Jersey, as they did beat the Jets in 2023 at MetLife Stadium.

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Mahomes leads the Chiefs in rushing with 123 yards, and the Giants know he will dare defenders to hit him as he tiptoes the sideline, sometimes faking as if he is going out of bounds.

“Quarterbacks I feel like are starting to abuse that rule,’’ OLB Brian Burns said. “It’s a feel thing. You should know when you can hit him and when you have to pull up.’’