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Brent Celek assisted with Eagles safeties’ preparation for Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in Super Bowl LIX

Safeties Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson did some pre-practice work with former Eagles tight end Celek, a team consultant, in the lead up to the Eagles departing for New Orleans.

Eagles safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship (center) will be key in slowing down Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Eagles safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship (center) will be key in slowing down Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

NEW ORLEANS — Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s preparation for the No. 1 tight end in an Andy Reid offense began by finding someone who previously held that title.

In the days leading up to their flight to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, the Eagles safeties did some pre-practice work lined up against former Eagles tight end and current consultant Brent Celek, who was doing his best Travis Kelce impersonation by running routes near the goal line.

Given Kelce’s track record throughout his 12-year career, and specifically during the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent run to winning three of the last five Super Bowls, the extra preparation is understandable. And while the veteran tight end has a tendency to line up from multiple alignments, Blankenship acknowledged that there will be plenty of times he or Gardner-Johnson will be matched up against Kelce in key situations.

Enter Celek, who spent the first six years of his career with the Eagles under Reid, amassing 71 starts and surpassing the 500-receiving-yard mark four times from 2007 to 2012.

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“He’s a bigger body like Kelce,” Blankenship said Tuesday. “We’re going to have to cover [Kelce] man-to-man sometimes. He’s been doing that this whole year, having to help us.”

Added Blankenship: “We have fun with it. We’re joking, we’re laughing, but at the end of the day, we’re still getting good work in.”

Kelce, 35, finished the regular season with 97 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns. While it was a slight dip from a dominant seven-year stretch in which he was regularly above the 1,000-yard mark, the veteran still will be a handful against the Eagles secondary.

In the divisional round against the Houston Texans, Kelce had seven catches for 117 yards and one touchdown, indicative of the impact he can have when not properly accounted for.

“He’s another great player,” Blankenship said. “Each team has freaks like that. Obviously we do, but Travis Kelce is going to be one of those dogs that you have to take care of.”

Blankenship & Co. had some trouble against another savvy veteran tight end in the NFC championship game. Former Eagle Zach Ertz led the Washington Commanders receiving corps with 11 catches for 104 yards in the Eagles’ 55-23 win.

According to Pro Football Focus, Ertz had four catches for 57 yards when matched up against Blankenship or Gardner-Johnson. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun also was charged with allowing three of Ertz’s catches for 20 yards.

“Zach Ertz is a dog, man,” Blankenship said. “He has a lot of years under his belt. He’s a really good receiver. Once you get this far, everybody is really good, so we’re going to have to be matched up against good guys. I feel like me and Ceedy are ready.”

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Similar to Ertz, Kelce likely will spend some time lined up in the slot against rookie corner Cooper DeJean as well. According to PFF, Kelce has lined up on the slot on 41.6% of the Chiefs’ passing downs this year, meaning DeJean may see his fair share of the veteran tight end as well.

After allowing just one catch for 10 yards in his snaps against Ertz in the conference championship, DeJean said combating the physicality against Kelce will be important in staying with him while acknowledging the difficulties the matchup will present.

“They’re both physical players running their routes,” DeJean said. “They both know how to get open really well. I think there are some similarities between the two, so it’s going to be a challenge, just like it was against Ertz.”