OCTOBER 8: Rice’s Tuesday procedure was a success, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. He will indeed miss the remainder of the campaign after the surgery repaired his LCL in addition to his hamstring. As hoped, though, no such repairs were needed on Rice’s ACL or meniscus and a full recovery is expected. Rice remains attached to his rookie contract through 2026.
OCTOBER 7: A clear recovery timetable for Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is still not in place. After further testing on his injured knee Monday, though, the worst-case scenario has been avoided. 
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Rice will need an LCL repair, but he adds that may be the only ligament requiring such a procedure. Rice’s Week 4 injury was initially feared to be an ACL tear, but it appears that is not the case. While Rapoport notably indicates the second-year wideout is expected to miss the remainder of the season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms Rice’s recovery timeline will be much shorter than originally expected.
On Monday, Rice had an arthroscopic procedure performed by Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ team doctor. A wide range of outcomes existed with respect to that process, and no structural damage of any kind represented an ideal circumstance which remained high unlikely. The best-case scenario has indeed not come to bear, but if a full ACL reconstruction proves to be unnecessary Rice’s timetable to return to full health will be greatly shortened. Rapoport adds a three-month timeframe could be in play based on the outcome of Rice’s next procedure, which will take place tomorrow.
Even on the short end of that timeline, it would come as a surprise if Rice were to take the field at any point in 2024 (barring a deep postseason run). The SMU product was placed on injured reserve last week, a move which ensured a four-game absence. It was well known Rice would be sidelined for much longer than that, and today’s update means any action on his part in the postseason would be considered a bonus. That puts Rice in a similar situation to fellow receiver Marquise Brown.
With both pass-catchers out of the picture for the foreseeable future, receiver has been named as a position of need for the two-time defending champions. An addition before the November 5 deadline could take place, with Christian Kirk of the Jaguars representing a potential target. A firm decision with respect to a midseason move depended in part on Rice’s prognosis, but now that some clarity has emerged on that front the Chiefs could seek out a deal relatively soon.
In the meantime, attention in Rice’s case will turn to his legal situation. The 24-year-old faces eight felony charges stemming from his offseason hit-and-run incident, and he may seek to serve any potential NFL suspension this season while sidelined by his injury. With a trial not expected until December, though, it would be surprising if the league were to finish an investigation and arrive at a disciplinary decision before Rice is next healthy enough to see the field. When that takes place is still unclear, but it should be sooner than team and player once feared.
Normally I would wish a speedy recovery…
Why do I get the feeling this is a ploy for him to be able to serve out his suspension this year??
Hopefully the rule is you have to be active and medically cleared before the suspension can be served.
There’s ways around it unfortunately
I hope so, because this seems like some bs..
Not the first time he’s been lucky to avoid a worst case scenario and not the most significant either.
Great scenario for the Chiefs if he could rehab this season while also serving his suspension, come back next year strong with a clean slate …….four-peat maybe, haha
Next year he could be exercising in the prison yard but at least he could do it without having a wonky knee.
Based on past experience, NFL suspensions affect active (non-injury status) players. Of course, the Chiefs would try to get one over on other teams, so who knows…
Watch Andy Reid pick up the unused Giant, the former 3rd round pick Jaylen Hyatt (for maybe a 7th) and, with Mahomes’ help, turn him into a prime weapon.
Yeah because he did the same thing with Toney
Who incidentally has a 60 yes punt return in the Super Bowl, along with a handful of clutch grabs late in the season and in the playoffs…..
Hyatt would actually be a great weapon for the Chiefs offense..
Not a bad call at all
It would be a real bummer if he couldn’t play for the rest of the year. After all his playing is much more important than those people who got hurt and maimed in the crash caused by street racing. I actually hope he makes a crapton of money so when the victims sue him they get enough to live a great life on his dime.
Let the scum rehab in prison.