Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice suffered a knee injury during the team’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The injury occurred when quarterback Patrick Mahomes dove into Rice’s knee while attempting a tackle after an interception. Rice was carted off the field with a towel over his head and was ruled out for the game. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid described the injury as “not good” in a brief sideline interview during halftime. Rice, a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had been the Chiefs’ leading receiver so far this season, with 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He was the only Kansas City receiver with more than 10 catches or 100 yards through the first three games.
With Rice sidelined, rookie wideout Xavier Worthy, a first-round pick, is expected to step up and contribute. Worthy caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes against the Chargers. The Chiefs are already dealing with offensive depth issues following an injury to running back Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco, the team’s leading rusher from the previous season, suffered a broken fibula in Week 2 and has been placed on injured reserve. He is not anticipated to return until at least Week 8. In response to Pacheco’s injury, Kansas City signed running back Kareem Hunt, who had previously played for the team from 2017-2018. The loss of Rice, combined with Pacheco’s absence, will put added pressure on the Chiefs’ offense to adapt and find other playmakers to fill the void.
Rice, who led the Chiefs with seven touchdowns last season, was second only to tight end Travis Kelce in receptions, targets, and yards, finishing the year with 79 catches for 938 yards. In April, Rice was involved in a legal incident in Dallas where he admitted to being the driver of a Lamborghini in an alleged hit-and-run. He turned himself in to Dallas police on April 11 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The NFL chose not to place Rice on the commissioner’s exempt list, instead opting to monitor the outcome of his legal process. Despite the off-field distractions, Rice had been a key contributor to the Chiefs’ offense prior to his injury, and his absence will be felt by the team as they navigate their upcoming games without him.
As the Chiefs adjust to playing without Rice, they will rely on other receivers like Worthy to step up and make plays. Rice’s presence on the field will be sorely missed, as he had been a reliable target for Mahomes and a key component of the team’s offensive success. The injury to Rice, along with the ongoing absence of Pacheco, will test the depth and resilience of the Chiefs’ roster as they look to maintain their position as contenders in the AFC. With Hunt now in the fold to help bolster the running game, Kansas City will need to find ways to overcome these setbacks and continue to compete at a high level in a competitive NFL landscape. The coming weeks will be crucial for the Chiefs as they navigate these challenges and strive to remain in contention in a tough AFC West division.
