Concerns about Rice's availability for the start of the season are legit after he settled an off-field issue that includes jail time; a suspension seems likely and could be at least four games. That will sink his ADP, but the reality is he'll still carry high-end No. 2 WR value for whenever he gets back. Rice followed up his breakout rookie year with an outstanding four-game average of 7.3 targets and 16.2 PPR points per game until he tore his right knee (he's since healed). He should be a big part of the offense, but he's not the only one as the Chiefs receiving corps is deeper than ever, particularly after how Xavier Worthy finished 2024. Brave Fantasy managers will see the value in taking Rice in Round 4 or 5 because his upside as a high-volume pass catcher and touchdown scorer (one every 11.4 catches) is desirable. If you end up with Rice on your team it might be a good move to pair him with another Chiefs receiver (Marquise Brown? Jalen Royals?) to guarantee a contributor in what should remain a quality offense.
While Rice has a Sept. 30 disciplinary hearing with the NFL scheduled, it's still possible that a settlement could be reached before the season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Per the report, the NFL initially proposed a suspension that would sideline Rice for over half of the coming season, but as things stand and based on the timing of his scheduled hearing, the wideout is currently in a position to be available for the first four games of the regular season. His situation could change, however, if a settlement is reached. In any case, Pelissero notes that the expectation is that Rice, who returned to practice earlier this week, will be suspended for a portion of the 2025 season, but in that scenario, how long remains to be seen.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Likely available Weeks 1-4
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Rice (groin) is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL scheduled for Tues., Sept. 30, making him likely to play in Kansas City's first four games of the regular season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Rice's disciplinary hearing with the NFL is expected to result in a multi-game suspension relating to his involvement in a multi-car crash that occurred in Dallas during the 2024 offseason, and a scheduling date of Sept. 30 likely now means that any missed time would come either in the middle of the 2025 campaign, or be deferred until 2026. That at least provides clarity that Rice, who missed the Chiefs' preseason opener against the Cardinals due to what coach Andy Reid described as a minor groin injury, should be available for the first four games of the regular season at a minimum, beginning Week 1 against the Chargers on Friday, Sept. 5. The status of both Rice and Hollywood Brown (ankle) remains uncertain for Friday's exhibition matchup against Seattle.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Not playing in preseason opener
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Rice (groin) isn't suiting up for Saturday's preseason matchup versus Arizona, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.
Rice was been dealing with a groin injury, though the issue has been described as minor by head coach Andy Reid. It's not surprising, however, that the star wideout won't play Saturday, as there's no reason for Kansas City to risk aggravating the issue in the first game of the preseason. Hollywood Brown (ankle) also isn't suiting up Saturday, so Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce should be the top pass-catching options for Patrick Mahomes, who's slated to see some action in the game.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Absence from practice precautionary
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Rice (groin) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Rice also didn't practice Wednesday, but per Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star, coach Andy Reid believes that the wideout's groin injury is minor and noted that Rice's continued absence is precautionary. That said, neither Rice nor Hollywood Brown (ankle) seem likely to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Cardinals.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Rice (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com, Rice was present for Wednesday's session but worked with trainers off to the side. It remains to be seen, however, if the wideout will see any action in Saturday's preseason opener against the Cardinals. Beyond that, Nate Taylor of ESPN previously noted that Rice said that he hasn't been told by the NFL whether he'll be suspended (stemming from his role in a multi-car crash that occurred in Dallas during the 2024 offseason) at some point during the 2025 season.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Full go for start of camp
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Rice (knee) will be a full participant in training camp as he awaits news on a potential suspension, Jenna West of The Athletic reports.
"We're going to progress as normal with [Rice]," said coach Andy Reid on Sunday. "He'll go in and take all the reps that he'll normally take." Rice made it back from last year's LCL tear to participate in spring practices, but things haven't been as smooth off the field, where a recent plea agreement for his hit-and-run case presumably means an NFL suspension is coming. Reid said he's aware of the possibility Rice will miss time but doesn't have any idea when the NFL might announce a suspension.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Ruling handed down
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Rice has been sentenced to five years probation and 30 days of jail time (which can be served during those five years) stemming from the wide receiver's role in a multi-car crash that occurred in Dallas during the 2024 offseason, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Now that a ruling on the matter has been handed down, the NFL could expedite its disciplinary process, with Schefter indicating that Rice is likely to receive a multi-game suspension. Rice and his teammates are scheduled to report to training camp on July 21. Per ESPN.com, Rice -- who suffered a torn right ACL in Week 4 last season -- is expected to be healthy once the team resumes practicing, but the 25-year-old's status now will need to be monitored ahead of Week 1 of the upcoming campaign, considering the possibility that league discipline could be on the way.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Will be full-go for start of camp
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Rice will be a full participant at the start of training camp late July, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Rice has been a full participant at voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and being fully on track for training camp is confirmation that he'll be cleared for contact. With his health no longer an obstacle, Rice has a clear path to picking up where he left off as the No. 1 wideout for Patrick Mahomes, a role he looked impressive in when he caught 24 passes for 288 yards and three scores across the first three games of 2024, before suffering an LCL tear. Of course, Rice managed that production without having to compete with all of Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and TE Travis Kelce on the field at the same time. The other shoe waiting to drop is an expected suspension related to Rice's involvement in a hit-and-run incident that occurred in Dallas in March of 2024, but the ongoing nature of his legal situation makes it possible that league discipline won't be enforced until 2026.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Full-go at voluntary OTAs
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Rice (knee) was a full participant in voluntary OTAs on Wednesday, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.
Rice missed Kansas City's first week of OTAs due to an illness, but the third-year pro is now back with the team and showing no signs of still being hampered by the season-ending surgery he underwent last October to repair the LCL in his right knee. Head coach Andy Reid previously said in April that Rice was on track to get an essentially complete offseason, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes said in late May that the explosive wideout had been working without limitations, so it comes as no surprise to see him now participating in full. A 2023 second-round pick, Rice followed up his excellent rookie season with a phenomenal start to the 2024 campaign, racking up a 24-288-2 receiving line in Weeks 1-3 before injuring his knee just seven snaps into Week 4. It's possible Rice's ongoing legal situation (and likely suspension) aren't resolved until 2026, but he now faces tougher target competition with Xavier Worthy having developed entering Year 2, Travis Kelce returning for a 13th season and Hollywood Brown healthy and having re-signed.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Absent due to illness
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Rice (knee) is "under the weather" and has been instructed to remain away from the team for this week of voluntary OTAs, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Rice has missed Kansas City's first group of voluntary OTAs from May 27-29 due to an illness, but he may still be able to participate June 2-4 and/or June 10-13, after which the team will host mandatory minicamp June 17-19. Reid said Rice is making progress in his recovery from the season-ending right knee injury he sustained in Week 4, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the third-year wideout "looks explosive and fast" and appears to be working with "no limitations," per Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com. It remains to be seen whether Rice is yet cleared for live contact, but it's encouraging to see that he's looked quick in on-field drills so far. Rice's ability to rack up yards after the catch gives him potential to be featured even in the Chiefs' crowded receiving corps, though the potential of a suspension in 2025 or 2026 still looms.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Participating in voluntary OTAs
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday that Rice (knee) "looks really good" and is "running routes" and "catching the football" at voluntary OTAs, Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports reports.
Mahomes acknowledged that it remains unclear "how much [Rice will] be able to do" during the offseason program, but he expressed encouragement that the standout wide receiver's injury occurred early enough in the 2024 season that "he's going to get pretty much a complete offseason." Coach Andy Reid has already stated that Rice is considered on track for training camp, so while Kansas City may continue taking a cautious approach to the 2023 second-round pick's recovery, he's expected to be fully healthy well ahead of Week 1. That said, Rice remains a candidate to face league discipline related to his involvement in a high-speed, multi-vehicle hit-and-run that occurred in Dallas over one year ago.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: On track for training camp
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Coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that Rice (knee) is "on track to be ready" for training camp in July, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.
Rice's recovery from right knee surgery to address a season-ending injury sustained Week 4 continues to proceed well. All signs point to the 2023 second-round pick reaching full health well ahead of the start of the 2025 regular season, though he could still face a potential suspension related to his involvement in a hit-and-run car crash that occurred last March. In the three games he played fully last season, Rice emerged as Kansas City's clear top receiving option, racking up 24 catches for 288 yards and two scores. It will be interesting to see what role Rice now finds himself in with Travis Kelce returning for a 13th season, Xavier Worthy heading into Year 2, and Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster both having re-signed with the Chiefs.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Recovery proceeding well
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Rice (knee) is doing well in his recovery from October surgery to repair the LCL in his right knee, which Reid called "a good sign for next year," Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Rice remains on injured reserve and isn't a candidate to contribute for Kansas City's matchup against the Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but he is now nearing the end of the estimated four-month recovery timeframe for the knee procedure, which also addressed a tear of his hamstring tendon. As such, the 2023 third-round pick seemingly remains on track to kick off the 2025 campaign at full health. Rice operated as Patrick Mahomes' clear top target in the first four games of the season, and if health isn't a factor, he could settle back in atop the depth chart in 2025. He will, however, still be a candidate for a future suspension related to his involvement in a hit-and-run car crash that occurred in Dallas last March, and for which Rice received criminal charges.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Gets season-ending surgery
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Rice is expected to miss the remainder of the season after he underwent successful surgery Tuesday to address an LCL injury in his right knee, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
NFL reporter Jordan Schultz adds that Rice also had his hamstring tendon repaired as part of the surgery, but the wide receiver didn't have any damage to ACL, MCL or meniscus. While Rice will miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign, the lack of additional structural damage bodes well for the 24-year-old wideout's chances of being ready to go for the start of the 2025 season. Even if he's back to full health however, Rice could still have to serve a suspension due to the criminal charges he's facing for his involvement in a hit-and-run car crash in Dallas that occurred last March.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: May have only LCL injury
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Rice will require surgery to repair his right LCL, but there's a chance that's the only ligament that needs to be repaired, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Adam Schefter of ESPN echoed Rapoport's report while noting that there was "optimism" that Rice's knee issue isn't as significant as initially believed. Tuesday's procedure will determine the precise nature of the injury and his recovery timeline. It remains unclear if Rice has any chance of returning to action this season, whether by Week 18 or during the playoffs, but he must reside on injured reserve until at least Nov. 10.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Getting knee procedure next week
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Rice (knee) will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his knee Monday, after which the Chiefs are expected to provide an update on the severity of his injury and his next steps, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rapoport suggests that there is a "[small] glimmer of hope" about the receiver's outlook, which doesn't offer much clarity on Rice's timeline except to indicate that he isn't yet being ruled out for the season. The 24-year-old has already been placed on injured reserve, so regardless of the outcome of the procedure, the earliest he could return to game action is Nov. 10 versus Denver. With Rice out for at least four games, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster are likely to lead Kansas City's receiving corps for the foreseeable future.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Lands on IR
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The Chiefs placed Rice (knee) on injured reserve Thursday.
Rice is slated to undergo testing on his right knee next week, after which the Chiefs will have a better idea regarding the severity of the injury he suffered in this past Sunday's win over the Chargers. At the very least, Rice's move to IR ensures that the wideout will miss at least the team's next four games. In Rice's absence, tight end Travis Kelce could take on a heightened role in the passing attack on short and intermediate routes, while wideouts Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Skyy Moore are all candidates to see their involvement on offense expand.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Set for further tests next week
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Head coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Rice is slated to undergo further testing on his right knee next week, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, the Chiefs are waiting for the swelling in Rice's knee to be reduced before the wideout's upcoming tests are done. The team already has confirmed that Rice won't be available for Monday's game against the Saints, according to Teicher, but beyond that, there's no definitive timeline for his recovery. Initial concerns were that Rice may have torn his right ACL, but for now the team is in "wait and see" mode according to Reid, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports. For any length of time Rice misses, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster are the top candidates to fill the void created by his absence.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Optimism from Patrick Mahomes
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday that he hopes Rice (knee) can return soon, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Early concerns about an ACL tear have given way to a more optimistic tone, although Rice has already been ruled out for Week 5 against the Saints and seems likely to miss additional time. He's still in the process of getting multiple doctors' opinions on the injury to figure out a recovery and rehab plan, which means he isn't totally out of the woods in terms of undergoing surgery and/or requiring a long-term absence. Mahomes mentioned wideouts Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Noah Gray as candidates to take on larger roles while Rice is unavailable.
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Chiefs' Rashee Rice: Tests still ongoing, out for Week 5
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Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday that Rice (knee) will not be available Week 5 against the Saints and that tests have not yet confirmed the severity of his injury, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Kansas City reportedly fears that Rice suffered a torn ACL during Sunday's 17-10 win over the Chargers, but the extent of the standout receiver's issue hasn't yet been fully confirmed. Rice was carted off the field early Sunday as the result of quarterback Patrick Mahomes colliding with his knee, with both players attempting to make a tackle in the aftermath of an interception. A serious injury for Rice would constitute a brutal blow for an offense already thin at the skill positions, especially with fellow starting wideout Hollywood Brown (shoulder) not expected to return until the postseason, at the earliest, and starting running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) recovering from surgery and not expected to come off IR until at least late October. Travis Kelce and rookie first-rounder Xavier Worthy figure to act as the centerpieces of Kansas City's passing game as long as Rice is sidelined, while Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman also stand to see their roles grow.
