It isn’t but recognized if Rashee Rice will miss the rest of the season, however he’s in line for not less than a short-term absence. The second-year wideout was positioned on injured reserve Thursday, per a group announcement.
That move comes as no surprise, and it guarantees at least a four-game spell on the sidelines. A torn ACL may have occurred in Week 4, one thing which might in fact sideline Rice for the remainder of the season. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed when talking to the media Thursday that the group would watch for the swelling to subside earlier than additional testing takes place.
If these evaluations verify a torn ACL, shifting Rice to IR will show to have been a easy formality. If a much less extreme harm is revealed, although, a return in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the marketing campaign can be potential. At a minimal, Thursday’s information ensures the 24-year-old is not going to be eligible to play till Week 9 on the earliest.
Rice’s harm got here after the Chiefs had already misplaced Marquise Brown till no sooner than the postseason. In consequence, Kansas Metropolis’s receiving corps is skinny in the intervening time, main many to label the group as a potential buyer forward of the commerce deadline. Excellent news on the Rice harm entrance: It may change any plans Kansas Metropolis has to make a midseason receiver addition, however it can nonetheless be fascinating to see if one is pursued with not less than a short-term absence in retailer.
Confronted with a variety of off-the-field points this offseason, the SMU product is not expected to be suspended this season in reference to the hit-and-run incident he was concerned in. No matter how his authorized state of affairs performs out, missed time on the sphere might be acutely felt. Rice had a robust rookie marketing campaign and posted a 24-288-2 statline throughout his first three video games in 2024. He might be anticipated to stay a essential pass-catching possibility if he manages to return later this season.
If not, the Chiefs will depend on first-round rookie Xavier Worthy together with the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman on the receiver spot. That group may very well be joined by Rice down the street, but it surely stays to be seen if that would be the case.
