Rashee Rice will be back on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs as they take on the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rice, who had been serving a six-game suspension, is expected to get a “heavy workload” upon return, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano. The wide receiver reportedly is in “peak physical shape” and will be “full bore” against the Raiders, according to Fowler and Graziano.
Even without Rice, the Chiefs’ offense has started to hit its stride after a slow start. They’ve averaged 31.6 points per game over their last three contests, relying heavily on the wide receiver duo of Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, who returned from injury two weeks ago after missing a pair of games.
Now Kansas City can add another receiver to the mix, but head coach Andy Reid said he’s not yet sure how he’ll divide the snaps between the three.
“There’s one ball, and somebody isn’t going to get every snap,” Reid said, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor. “They got to check that ego and I appreciate that. When they do get opportunities, I appreciate the way they’ve handled that, too. They’re all good players. Hollywood did have a really good game [in the win over the Detroit Lions]. The last two weeks, he’s made some catches that are really incredible.”
Rice had a strong rookie season in 2023, recording 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. The Chiefs hoped he’d continue his momentum in 2024, but he played just four games before suffering a season-ending injury.
In July, Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years’ probation for his role in a multi-car crash during the 2024 offseason. In August, the NFL announced Rice would serve a six-game suspension to start the 2025 campaign.
While he was not with the team during his suspension, he conducted individual workouts with sessions focused on his route running, strength and conditioning and his quickness, according to Taylor.
The start of Rice’s NFL career has been rough, but he’ll look to come back strong from his suspension and make an immediate impact for the Chiefs.
Kansas City started the year 1-2 but has managed to turn things around in recent weeks. The Chiefs are coming off a 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions.
Rice’s return comes ahead of a crucial stretch for Kansas City. Over the next four games, the Chiefs will have a pair of divisional matchups as well as meetings with the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills.
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