By now we know that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is always interested in passing the ball to a teammate to get extra yards.

But the most famous example of this type of play is also infamous: the side-swipe he played with 1:25 left to widen Kadarius Toney in last season’s 20-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Toney scored a touchdown that could have won the game – but the play was called back because Toney was offside at the snap.

But that hasn’t stopped Kelce from thinking about it – and trying it out in a game every now and then.

His chance came in the team’s 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football.” In the second quarter, Kansas City found itself in a second-and-34 situation. JuJu Smith-Schuster had gained 13 yards on the previous play – but then it was Kelce’s turn on third-and-21. After making the catch, he was just five yards downfield as defenders closed in. So he threw it to running back Samaje Perine near the sideline, who gained another 15 yards — close enough for running back Kareem Hunt to convert on the fourth and final possession. 1 in the next game.

“It wasn’t scripted,” Perine said in the locker room. “I can tell you that. I’ve seen him a few times – he does it in practice – so I thought, “Let me stay in phase – just in case.” And sure enough, I saw him change the ball and twist his arm back – and I did was just ready for it.”

Even though he’s still new to the team, Perine has already gotten used to Kelce’s tendencies.

“He does that every day in practice,” the running back noted. “He’s always ready. You have to keep your hand on the swivel.”

It’s an experience that was new for Perine.

“It’s like he’s playing backyard football,” he remarked. “To experience it first hand? It was crazy – but it was fun.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes never knows when the time will come.

“I’m shaking my head,” he told reporters after the game, “because I told him before the game, ‘I’m going to throw it to you to get you in field goal range.’ And secretly shoveled it all over the field.”

Mahomes drew laughter from reporters by comparing his conversations with Kelce to those with his 3-year-old daughter.

“So I mean, it’s like I’m talking to Sterling,” he said with a smile. “So this is Travis, man. He’s just a special player. As long as he does it – and it works – man, nobody’s going to say anything.”

Certainly not head coach Andy Reid – who also drew laughter by teasing his tight end about it.

“He did a great job with the decision to do it or not do it,” he said of Kelce’s sideline player. “(But) if he’s not feeling well, I tell him, ‘Don’t come back to the bench.'”