Where the Chiefs stand with wide receiver Rashee Rice

Early in the first quarter of Kansas City Chiefs’ eventual Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, wide receiver Rashee Rice suffered what initially seemed to be a season-ending injury to his right knee.

Kansas City’s training staff quickly ruled Rice out for the rest of the game — and in the hours to follow, word spread that the team feared Rice had torn his ACL. But that initial diagnosis was never confirmed; now, the club needs more information.

“Rashee’s situation is — we’re getting the swelling out of his knee and then he’s got to have further tests next week,” said head coach Andy Reid on Thursday. “We really don’t have anything to tell you from there. We’ll see how these tests go next week once the swelling’s down there.”

Asked if he was more optimistic than he was on Sunday, Reid stood unwilling to go that far.

“I think it’s just wait and see is where we’re at,” he said. “For his sake, we’re really hoping that things work out for the best, but let’s just see where it goes and leave it up to the doctors to see. I’m definitely not a doctor.”

Nobody is more hopeful for a quick recovery than Mahomes, as he told local beat writers during a small interview session on Wednesday.

“When I saw the replay, I felt like s—t that I hit Rashee,” he added on Thursday. “I think that’s pretty much [it]. I wasn’t really worried about myself. I was worried about his injury, and hopefully, it wasn’t as bad as it looked because I was the one that hit him.”

Next steps for Rice

During Thursday's open locker room session, Rice was seen wearing a full compression sleeve that ran all the way up his right leg. He walked about normally and seemed in good spirits.

As Reid alluded, Rice is now due for additional examination once the swelling goes down. A source confirmed to Arrowhead Pride that Rice needs the other ligaments in his knee — the PCL, MCL and LCL — to be tested.

That testing requires a scope, which will be conducted in person by a specialist in Dallas, Texas, next week. Once that is completed, there should finally be some definitiveness on a timeline to return.

Monday night against the Saints

What the Chiefs know for certain right now is that Rice has been placed on injured reserve, which means he will be out of action for a least the next four games. That stretch begins with Kansas City’s “Monday Night Football” game against the New Orleans Saints.

“Rashee’s had a phenomenal year,” said Reid. “Unfortunately, in this league, injuries happen and life goes on. We always expected the next guys to step up and roll. That’s no different now. “There’s not another Rashee. There’s other guys though that are very, very good, so we’ll be fine.”

Through three games in 2024, Rice had compiled 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. On a per-game basis, Kansas City will have to replace eight catches, 96 yards and a scoring threat that garners the opposing defense's attention.

Logic would tell you that will call for a greater dose of tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Xavier Worthy and running back Kareem Hunt. Expect receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Justin Watson to be more important, as well.

“Those guys are always the guys that do it the right way,” said Mahomes. “They’re always in the right position. They do what they’re supposed to do. They get guys lined up, and I think having those guys is a luxury. You know that they’re going to be there, they’re going to get open, and they’re going to make plays when their numbers are called.

“I think (general manager) Brett Veach did a great job of continuing to build within that receiving room. Obviously, [I was] not expecting two big injuries (Rice and Hollywood Brown) earlier in the year in that receiving room. But having the support of the guys to come in and step up and make plays whenever those guys aren’t in there.”

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