Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes believes GM Brett Veach has done a good job maneuvering around tough situation

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach knew he would have to account for a suspension for wide receiver Rashee Rice at some point during the 2025 season.

It was recently determined that Kansas City will be without Rice right off the bat of the regular season, as he will sit out the first six weeks. Unlike last year when Rice missed the final 16 games (including the postseason) with a knee injury, Veach was able to prepare the team to be without him.

While speaking to the media on Sunday, quarterback Patrick Mahomes credited Veach for revamping the WR corpse in a way which the Chiefs can have success while Rice is out.

"I think we prepared a little bit in the offseason for other guys to step up in certain roles," Mahomes said. "That's part of it. Last year with the injury that he (Rice) had, guys had to step up and make plays. I think losing a receiver of that magnitude, that good, it takes away from the offense in a sense. But at the same time, Veach brought in a lot of receiver depth so that guys can step up and take over that role in different spots. It won't be just one guy. It Will be multiple guys that will kind of do some of the stuff that Rashee has done, and then other guys will step up in other spots and make plays as well."

This year's WR room is much different than 2024's. Hollywood Brown is healthy, Xavier Worthy is entering Year 2 after finishing last season very strong, and guys like Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals are much better depth pieces than what K.C. had one year ago. Not to be forgotten is the veteran of the group, JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is as healthy and revitalized as he's been in a couple of years.

While the Chiefs would certainly be better with Rice, they are much more equipped to be without out now than they were last season. When he returns in Week 7, he could take the offense to rarefied air. We'll see just how improved the WR corpse is in Week 1 when K.C. takes on a Los Angeles Chargers' defense that ranked No. 7 against the pass in 2024.