Rashee Rice returned to the Kansas City Chiefs facility earlier this week to join Patrick Mahomes, Marquise Brown, Sky Moore, and Kadarius Toney in the Kansas City Chiefs voluntary training camp, just a week after he was released from police custody. However, the second-year wide receiver may have to wait a bit longer to gain access to NFL games.
NFL Insider James Palmer revealed in a recent discussion with retired wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.‘s podcast that Rice may have to face a ban from playing football. When asked for how long, Palmer added that it could be anywhere between 2 games and half of the 2024 season.
At this moment, KC doesn’t exactly know the number of games. This has been the expectation all along since Rice surrendered to Texas police, but there seems to be a wide range of potential outcomes as to the number of games.
James Palmer said
Even though the Chiefs have a decent receiving core of Moore, Toney, and Brown, head coach Andy Reid and the general manager required another speedster. So they opted to use their 28th pick in the draft to take Texas’ Xavier Worthy.
Later, Palmer in another episode highlighted the time Rashee Rice would be out.
He is going to be suspended. For half a season [for his legal troubles] Continuing further, Palmer added
Rice was part of an accident on a freeway in Dallas. Eyewitnesses and dash cam footage confirmed a car registered in his name crashed into the divider, hitting several other vehicles. He and four others left the scene before the police arrived.
A few days later, the 24-year-old took responsibility for the accident. He even surrendered to the police and was later let go after paying a fine.
The Chiefs will miss Rashee Rice
Rice played a major role in the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bow l-winning year. In a squad that dropped 42 passes, Rice was the only shining light besides perhaps Travis Kelce. But he is a tight end and has various other duties to fulfill besides catching the ball.
As for receivers, the Dallas native stood out the most. Not only was he a contender for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but he was also among the favorites to win the Chiefs Player of the Year title.
Rashee Rice appeared in 16 games, starting eight. He caught 79 passes for 938 yards and scored seven touchdowns in the regular season. In comparison, Justin Watson, who played the same number of games, had only 27 catches for 460 yards and 4 touchdowns.
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