On Wednesday, joint-filing Kansas City Chiefs came through with that news. They put wide receiver Rashee Rice and three other players on the injured reserve. The team is still facing a challenging season, with injuries striking the most vital positions. With Rice, who was sidelined by concussion protocol, joining wide receiver Tyquan Thornton on injured reserve. Sharing his spot on the list is cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.
Rashee Rice’s concussion from two weeks ago has him on the field, missing last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. This season, he had 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games played. His performance has still continued to shine bright during an otherwise miserable year for the Chiefs. This is even more impressive when considering that he was starting the season under a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The suspension grew from Rice’s participation in a multicar pileup in Dallas in 2024 that led to several injuries.
Along with Rice, Tyquan Thornton has been placed on IR as well for a concussion. Both wide receivers will miss a month as the Chiefs hope to bounce back from these injuries. Now cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are hurt. With McDuffie still fighting a knee injury and Watson facing off against a groin injury, defensive backs like Josh DeBerry will need to step up.
Getting worse for the Chiefs is an unexpected crisis at quarterback. Both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew have been lost to season-ending knee injuries. Now, it’s up to Chris Oladokun to be the team’s starting quarterback going forward. This shift comes at a crucial time in the season as the Chiefs aim to secure their playoff position amidst these injuries.
Rice’s ongoing legal troubles have only compounded Rice’s PR issues this season. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years’ probation in July for the crash noted above. His suspension and subsequent injuries have limited his contributions on the field, raising questions about his future with the franchise.
The Chiefs have a difficult couple months ahead. Perhaps more importantly, they’re going to need the depth that they have developed to carry them as they wait for key players to recover. The team remains focused on overcoming these hurdles as they prepare for upcoming games.
Leave a Reply