Ask anybody in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room, from Andy Reid to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, why Travis Kelce hasn’t been catching passes and they will have the same answer: It’s not his fault.

In fact, they will say the fact that the four-time All-Pro tight end has a mere eight catches for 69 yards through the first three weeks of the season is also a big reason why the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are 3-0 heading into a game at the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.

Kelce simply demands coverage, even as his 35th birthday approaches next weekend. That’s hardly a new concept, of course, but opposing defenses have been taking it to an extreme this season. Double-teams are constant, and even triple-teams have become regular, as was the case during a 22-17 victory last Sunday night in Atlanta.

So, with Kelce blanketed, that opened up Rashee Rice to catch 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, JuJu Smith-Schuster to catch his first touchdown pass of the season, and even backup tight end Noah Gray to settle in for an easy catch.

“I feel like I want to give him the ball more,” Mahomes said of Kelce, “whereas he’s just like, ‘I just want to win, man. I don’t care. I’ll run these routes and take guys with me so that other guys can get open.’”

The 25-year-old version of Kelce might not have had the same magnanimous outlook, back when he was still trying to achieve stardom. But he is nothing if not secure in his career by this point — he almost certainly is headed for the Hall of Fame when his playing days are over — and with three Super Bowl rings on his fingers, he’ll do anything to get a fourth.

Even if it means becoming a de facto decoy in the Kansas City offense.

“He literally knows — I mean, he does know — that he collects people,” Reid said. “Then you have the checkdowns that we had last week. These big gains off of checks — or Noah, standing in the middle of the field by himself. (Rice) being able to get one-on-one situations. That’s a tribute to Travis, and he knows that.”

It might not sit well with fantasy football owners who invested first- and second-round picks in the perennially productive tight end. But it sits well in the Kansas City locker room, where Kelce has long been one of the veteran voices.

“In all honesty, I think he’s always been this guy,” said Mahomes, one of Kelce’s closest friends. “What’s been great for me in my career is that he wants to make an impact in the game, and he wants to make plays, but he wants to win at the end of the day.

“If we’re winning,” Mahomes said, “he’s good with just going out and playing hard — blocking, doing whatever he can to impact the game. Whenever we’re winning games like, that’s everybody, man. You just want to win at the end of the day.”

Browns’ Garrett won’t be stopped >> Myles Garrett won’t let an assortment of injuries stop him. Not surprisingly, he’s pushing and powering through the pain.

Relentless as always.

Garrett was back at practice with the Browns on Thursday and the NFL’s incumbent Defensive Player of the Year said he’ll play Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders despite dealing with injuries to both feet, an Achilles tendon and thigh — and maybe others.

“No excuses,” he said. “Just go out there and ball.”

Garrett barely made it through last week’s loss to the New York Giants, and after seeing him struggle to even walk following the game, it appeared the star defensive end’s season could be in jeopardy.

At the very least, he’d need time off to rest and recover.

But an MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage, and given a green light, Garrett is doggedly determined to stay on the field. He appreciates that sitting a game or two might be beneficial, but he’s not ready for any breaks.

“Maybe,” he said when asked if extra rest would help. “But that’s what we have a bye week for. So until then, you’re not going to get enough of 95.”

The only player to record at least 14 sacks in each of the past three seasons, Garrett said he has been told he won’t do any further harm by continuing to play. He’ll sit out some practices if necessary to get extra treatment.

“I try to spend every moment preparing my body for the rigors of the season and sometimes some bumps and bruises like I have now,” he said. “An injured animal is the fiercest, so I’m going to be at my best.”

Lions Pro Bowl center out >> Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow has been declared out for Monday night’s game against the undefeated Seattle Seahawks with a pectoral injury.

Ragnow is a three-time Pro Bowl player who leads one of the best offensive lines in the league.

The Lions will likely move Graham Glasgow from left guard to center, a position he has played in two of his nine seasons.

Michael Niese, Kayode Awosika and Dan Skipper are potential candidates to start at guard on a reshaped line without Ragnow.