Chiefs just unlocked their most dangerous weapon (and the NFL should be scared)

Chiefs Kingdom has been waiting for this moment. After six weeks, Kansas City's offense will finally be at full strength coming into Week 7, just in time for the team to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in a divisional matchup that's been circled on the calendar for quite some time. That's not a testament to the Raiders' talent; rather, it's the date that wide receiver Rashee Rice will make his first start for the team in 2025.

That's an exciting proposition for a high-octane offense that's already come alive for the last three weeks, especially after rolling over the Detroit Lions in primetime in Week 6.

Rice was handed a six-game suspension to start the season after a dramatic back-and-forth over how much time he was expected to miss (and when) following a reckless driving incident in April 2024. That forced the Chiefs offense to start the season without its most trusted target—and then things got worse.

The Chiefs watched Xavier Worthy suffer a torn labrum on the third offensive snap of the season in a Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. When combined with the low ceiling in the backfield and the lack of dynamism at tight end, the Chiefs' offense sputtered early and often, especially in the first two losses of the season.

Patrick Mahomes has to be ecstatic about getting Rashee Rice back on the field.

Once Worthy returned, while playing with a supportive shoulder harness, in Week 4, Patrick Mahomes and company sprang back to life. The Chiefs scored 55 points in the last two games before putting up another 30 against the Detroit Lions in Week 6.

The Chiefs have made no secret of their appreciation for Rice, and Brett Veach has stated on multiple occasions that he views the SMU product as a top 10 receiver in the entire NFL. "I think he's a legit dude, a star in this league. And I think that replacing him is going to be awfully hard to do," said Veach when he was injured.

Last year, Rice went down after just three full games and had 24 receptions for 288 yards and 2 scores at the time he was injured. Given the suspension after the injury, the rest of the NFL hasn't really had a chance to see Rice put together the sort of breakout campaign that would validate Kansas City's internal confidence.

Now, however, Rice is healthy and has been given extra rest even after looking sensational in the team's preseason slate. Mahomes and company are so vocal about their love for Rice for good reason, because he's going to make everyone better around him once he arrives. That's a very scary proposition for the rest of the National Football League.