Advertisement

When will Rashee Rice return? Latest injury updates on Chiefs WR

tom viera, usa today
·4 min read

Kansas City improved to 4-0 following their 17-10 win over the Chargers but suffered a significant loss in the process.

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was forced out of the game after taking an awkward hit to his knee from quarterback Patrick Mahomes while attempting to chase down a defender following an interception.

"It's not good," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson before halftime about Rice.

Rice was quickly becoming the No. 1 receiver for Kansas City, and the playmaker Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have been searching for since trading away Tyreek Hill. Rice had accumulated a team-high 288 receiving yards on 24 receptions and 2 touchdowns before his injury. His absence is a significant blow to the Chiefs' offense.

When will Rashee Rice return?

On Oct. 3, the Chiefs announced that Rashee Rice had been officially placed on IR, a move that will sideline him for at least the next four games.

Kansas City has a bye in Week 6, making the earliest possible return to action in Week 10 at home against the Denver Broncos.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Rice is scheduled to undergo a knee scope on Monday which will determine the severity of Rice's injury. The results should put forth a clearer timeframe for Rice's return.

Head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Oct. 3, that they want to get the swelling in Rice’s knee to subside before the wide receiver undergoes additional testing next week.

Chiefs reporter Pete Sweeney shared on social media he saw Rice in the locker room wearing a sleeve, and walking without crutches.

On Wednesday, Mahomes told local reporters, “Hopefully, we have him back soon.” Further testing next week should shed more light on the injured wide receiver, but the timeline for his return remains uncertain.

Following the Week 4 game vs. the Chargers, reports broke that the Chiefs feared Rice suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Rice would undergo an MRI on Monday following the game, but the outlook was not positive.

Appearing on "NFL Live," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Rice will miss time. However, it's unclear if his ACL is actually torn. Regardless, Rice is expected to miss some time. ESPN adds that a determination on Rice's injury may come next week.

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2025 nominees include Eli Manning, Marshawn Lynch

When was Rashee Rice's injury?

Rice suffered his injury in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season when the Chiefs played the Los Angeles Chargers.

Rice collided with Patrick Mahomes while trying to tackle Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton during an interception return. Mahomes appeared to hit the front of Rice's knee while trying to make a tackle near the sideline. Rice's knee bent backward because of the force of the hit by Mahomes' shoulder on the tackle attempt. Rice had to be carted off to the locker room.

Chiefs WR depth chart

With Rashee Rice out indefinitely, here's how the Chiefs depth chart looks at wide receiver:

The Chiefs have these five wide receivers on their 53-man roster.

The rookie first-rounder Xavier Worthy will be expected to take on a larger role.

"We'll see how he does. We've got guys here that have experience of playing in the game. It's not that he's the only one. He doesn't have to be the only one," Reid said of Worthy during a call with reporters on Monday. "We've got a good group of guys there that we can utilize. We normally spread the ball around, and that's what we'll continue to strive to do."

Juju Smith-Schuster led Chiefs wide receivers in 2022 with 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns. He will likely take on a larger role. Tight end Travis Kelce is more likely to become the centerpiece of the Chiefs offense while Rice remains out.

The Chiefs are thin at the skilled positions, with fellow wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown expected out until the playoffs and running back Isiah Pacheco sidelined for 6-8 weeks because of a fractured fibula.

All the players and the plays: Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter for exclusive NFL analysis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will Rashee Rice return? Latest updates for Chiefs WR