After Andy Reid told CBS’ Tracy Wolfson that Rashee Rice‘s injury did not look good at halftime of the team’s Week 4 Chargers matchup, a report indicating the Chiefs feared a torn ACL emerged. Rice is now on IR, but no confirmation of a tear has surfaced.
Such silence is being categorized as Rice seeking a second opinion on his injured knee, but multiple other motivations could be in play here. The Chiefs could be holding off on Rice needing a season-ending surgery due to potential price increases from trade sellers, as the defending champs are expected to be in the market for help. Another reason for keeping Rice’s injury in-house could pertain to his off-field trouble.
[RELATED: Chiefs Considering Wide Receiver Acquisition]
Rice’s camp and the team may also have an interest in protecting his injury information, as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio offers that the second-year wide receiver is aiming to resolve his personal conduct matter this year rather than drag out the process. Cynically, this would be an attempt to have Rice serve his punishment in 2024 — while he will be, in all likelihood, physically unable to play.
The wide receiver is facing eight felony charges in connection with a March hit-and-run incident, a six-car accident in Dallas that has drawn at least one civil suit against the SMU alum. Rice also punched a photographer in the face at a nightclub soon after. The photographer labeled it a misunderstanding and did not file charges. However, an NFL investigation into Rice also may include an incident while the receiver was still at SMU. Rice or a member of his party fired gunshots into the empty vehicle belonging to a Mustangs basketball player.
For an investigation covering all this to be completed in time for Rice to serve his entire suspension, one that will likely span four to six games, this season would be ambitious. This renewed effort on the wideout’s part also comes not long after a report indicated he was not expected to be suspended this season. The league reversing course now would probably not go over well with other teams, particularly ones who have seen key players taken off the field due to personal conduct policy suspensions. The Chiefs have developed an earned reputation for taking chances on character risks, with Rice being the AFC powerhouse’s latest major development on this front. But they have reaped rewards from the strategy, as players like Tyreek Hill, Frank Clark and Charles Omenihu accompany Rice in having contributed to Super Bowl-winning teams, doing so after Kareem Hunt won a rushing title.
Rice would obviously benefit from serving a ban this season, and Florio adds a settlement with Dallas prosecutors would be a way to expedite the process. A previous report indicated no Rice trial would occur before December, giving the talented pass catcher a runway to play this season.
The 2023 second-round pick was off to a strong start, operating as Kansas City’s clear-cut top pass catcher — despite the presence of future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce — in his three healthy games. Rice’s rookie deal runs through 2026, but if his expected suspension begins in Week 1 of next year, his second and third NFL seasons will feature extended absences. A smoother path to a big-ticket extension would naturally emerge if Rice is eligible to play the entire 2025 season.
The Chiefs are likely to augment their receiving situation soon, though it will also be interesting to see which teams are willing to deal with a franchise gunning for its third straight Super Bowl title. Clubs who are will probably operate under the assumption Rice is indeed out for the season, factoring that into their asking prices. A course reversal regarding when Rice and the Chiefs want this suspension to occur will have no bearing on how sellers handle trade negotiations.
Typical
Lol what a joke. I’m sure there’s nothing preventing this but that absolutely should not be allowed to happen.
There is. Against rules to lie about injury reports.
Belichick was notorious for filing ambiguous and murky injury reports to the league office. Aside from warnings what penalties did Goodell ever enforce?
This is a loophole that needs to be closed.
Winning really is doing a good job of covering up how scummy of an organization the Chiefs are.
Really – they have a long line of criminals in their organization, from the ownership down to the players. Put a little girl in a coma, we’ll get the governor to pardon you!
Andy Reid has figured out that you can be Tony Soprano as long as you look like Wilford Brimley.
Post of the day!
Who’s going to break the news to Taylor Swift that Jason Kelce is actually Paulie Walnuts?
No different than the Browns giving Watson a million for his first year so he wouldn’t miss out on a large sum while being suspended.
Just a joke league for suspensions and fines
Haha. Dumbest post of the day. That’s not why they tailored the contract that way.
Yes it was
They did the same thing with Garrett, Ward and Cooper. Educate yourself
It’s completely different considering
“ The NFL’s Personnel (Injury) Report Policy requires teams to accurately and timely report all injuries, even if a player is expected to play. Failure to comply with the policy can result in disciplinary action, including fines, suspensions, and loss of draft picks”
He is out for the season, so a suspension would be extra now lol. Give him a full season suspension now and let him come back week 5 of next season to make people quit whining, but that wouldn’t be long enough for most.
How about giving him a suspension after he’s healthy
Deerhunter. Exactly. Where is the punishment in a suspension served when the player can’t play anyway? It’s ridiculous.
Of course it wouldn’t. His actions were the same as Henry Ruggs’, the outcome was just different.
If he is facing 8 felony charges, the suspension should begin after prison time.
Exactly. Just look at Vonn Miller’s case. The prosecutor dropped all the charges, and yet the NFL still waited more than a year to hand out a suspension, which was precisely when he finally started to play well again. So of course, the NFL would treat the Chiefs differently.
Nothing but whining replies. His season is done. All of the haters should celebrate his injury and that he isn’t going to help the chiefs this season, but people want more than just that.
So they’re manipulating an injury report. Yeah nfl needs to step in fine them draft picks and cash immediately.
Andy Reid has obviously been like a father to Rashee. Look at it Andy’s son mowed down some poor girl on an entry ramp going 90 while hammered. She is brain injured and her life is severely adversely effected. POS governor ended Brit Reid’s sentence. Must be nice. Rashee just rammed into some poor saps car going 130 mph and ran. Ironically if it happened now he could not run.
Love the fact his mom got arrested for theft wearing his jersey. You can not make this stuff up
Garbage move
Kelce is the worst of them all. Dating Swift ffs
Your jealousy is unbecoming.
I hear Antonio Brown is available.
This story was CLEARLY released by Roger himself to gauge public outrage. As KC are the golden boys and normal society is totally expendable compared.
Goodell doesn’t give a hoot about public outrage. If he did, then something would have been done about the inept officiating long ago. His only mandate is to keep making money for the owners who employ him.
As long as it’s convenient for Rice…
Rice is getting the karma he deserved.
#respectfully
Bills fans wanted Von Miller to serve his last season while still recovering from surgery, why should the Chefs get a pass?
If the NFL allows him to serve this suspension while he is out for the year, then it absolutely and unequivocally proves that KC gets special treatment, period!