Chiefs Get Major Update on Rashee Rice's Looming Suspension
The Kansas City Chiefs were without star wide receiver Rashee Rice for most of last season, and while that may have ultimately hindered their push to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions, it also could prove helpful heading into 2025.
The 25-year-old Rice played the first four games of last season before missing the rest of the year after tearing the LCL in his right knee on an accidental hit from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The SMU alum has been rehabbing ever since, and he appears on track to be ready for the regular-season opener against those same Chargers on Sept. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium.
And while it's unlikely Rice will miss 13 games again this season (barring any crazy injury setback or a new injury), he will at least miss a decent chunk of the season when he's eventually suspended by the NFL.
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According to ESPN's Adam Schefter though, Rice should be available for the Chiefs' first four games of the year against the Chargers, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 14), New York Giants (Sept. 21), and Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 28), with his suspension coming in the middle of the season and allowing him to return in time for the playoffs.
Rashee Rice #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs high fives fans prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 7, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Rashee Rice #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs high fives fans prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 7, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri."ESPN sources: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Tuesday, Sept 30 in New York," Schefter reported. "This means that Rice now is likely to be able to play the first four weeks of this season before any potential discipline is imposed for his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas during the 2024 offseason."
Rice's looming suspension, which CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones expects be around six games — the baseline number for violations to the NFL's personal conduct policy — coupled with his injury recovery has forced the Chiefs to be prepared just in case another curve ball is thrown their way.
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Head coach Andy Reid recently told reporters that Rice is still getting his normal starter's workload but he's also making sure some of Kansas City's younger pass-catchers like Jason Brownlee, Mac Dalena, Tyquan Thornton, and rookie Jalen Royals are getting the necessary reps to help fill a Rice-sized void if needed.
"We're going to progress as normal with [Rice], he'll take all the reps that he'd normally take," Reid said, via KMBC 9. "We always rotate that position, so depending on what happens here in the future, whoever needs to play will be able to step in and know what they're doing and be in good shape to do it. But we're just going to progress as normal."
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