A transparent restoration timetable for Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice remains to be not in place. After additional testing on his injured knee on Monday, although, the worst-case situation has been prevented.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Rice will want an LCL restore, however he provides that could be the one ligament requiring such a process. Rice’s Week 4 damage was initially feared to be an ACL tear, but it surely seems that isn’t the case. Whereas Rapoport notably signifies the second-year wideout is anticipated to overlook the rest of the season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms Rice’s restoration timeline might be a lot shorter than initially anticipated.
On Monday, Rice had an arthroscopic procedure carried out by Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ crew physician. A variety of outcomes existed with respect to that course of, and no structural injury of any sort represented a great circumstance that remained extremely unlikely. The very best-case situation has certainly not come to bear, but when a full ACL reconstruction proves to be pointless Rice’s timetable to return to full well being might be enormously shortened. Rapoport adds a three-month timeframe may very well be in play based mostly on the end result of Rice’s subsequent process, which is able to happen tomorrow.
Even on the brief finish of that timeline, it will come as a shock if Rice have been to take the sphere at any level in 2024 (barring a deep postseason run). The SMU product was placed on injured reserve final week, a transfer which ensured a four-game absence. It was well-known that Rice can be sidelined for for much longer than that, and Monday’s replace means any motion on his half within the postseason can be thought-about a bonus. That places Rice in an identical scenario to fellow receiver Marquise Brown.
With each pass-catchers out of the image for the foreseeable future, huge receiver has been named as a place of want for the two-time defending champions. An addition earlier than the November 5 deadline could take place, with Christian Kirk of the Jaguars representing a potential target. A agency choice with respect to a midseason transfer depended partly on Rice’s prognosis, however now that some readability has emerged on that entrance the Chiefs may hunt down a deal comparatively quickly.
Within the meantime, consideration in Rice’s case will flip to his authorized scenario. The 24-year-old faces eight felony prices stemming from his offseason hit-and-run incident, and he might search to serve any potential NFL suspension this season whereas sidelined by his damage. With a trial not anticipated till December, although, it will be stunning if the league have been to complete an investigation and arrive at a disciplinary choice earlier than Rice is subsequent wholesome sufficient to see the sphere. When that takes place remains to be unclear, but it surely must be earlier than the crew and participant as soon as feared.
