As of now, the Chiefs are coming in full force to MetLife Stadium.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that receiver Rashee Rice is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Sept. 30 after being involved in a high speed multi-car crash in Dallas that left multiple people injured in March 2024.
The ruling means that the wideout will likely be able to play the first four weeks of the season — including the Week 3 “Sunday Night Football’ matchup against the Giants on Sept. 21.
Rice, 25, pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges and was sentenced to 30 days in prison by a Dallas County judge in July that can be served at any point during a five-year probation period.
The case will be dismissed if he completes the probation.
The 2023 second-round pick is the Chiefs’ No. 1 receiver in front of Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and will be a big missing piece when he serves his expected suspension.
Now, quarterback Patrick Mahomes can expect to have all his pass catchers available to start off 2025, including the likes of Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown and Jalen Royals.
“All I can do is focus on what I can control right now, and that’s me doing what I do best right here on the field,” Rice said earlier in August. “I learned just how valuable any opportunity and moment is. This right here, us being able to be on the field and be coached by coach [Andy] Reid and have such a great quarterback, is honestly a gift, a blessing.
“I’ve completely changed. Honestly, you have to learn from things like that. I’ve taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that.”
A multi-game suspension still looms for the Philadelphia native after the disciplinary hearing for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
“This is my job, and this is what I love to do. Even when I’m not able to be out there with my team, I’m still going to be working as hard as I can so I can be back out there with them as soon as possible,” Rice said.
Rice had an impressive rookie year with 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.
His sophomore campaign came to an end after just four games due to a torn lateral collateral ligament, leaving him with 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
