Rashee Rice is back as if he’d never left. After nearly a year’s absence, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovered one of his best weapons, putting him to work immediately to tear apart the Las Vegas Raiders’ defense.
Selected in the second round (55th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Rice made an immediate impact on the Chiefs’ offense. In his rookie year, the SMU graduate caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.
Fans and experts expected 2024 to be Rice’s breakout year, but it wasn’t to be. The young receiver was sidelined for the season with a torn LCL after colliding with Mahomes in the Week 4 game.
That wasn’t all. In October 2024, Rice was involved in a vehicle accident in Texas, which left several people injured. This earned him a six-game suspension, which he has just served.
Rashee Rice’s spectacular return
The Week 7 game against the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium marked Rice’s return to the field, and boy did he return in a big way, scoring a touchdown on his second reception of the game.
In a lightning-fast play, Mahomes short-handed the ball to Rice, who broke the line of scrimmage to enter the end zone and give the Chiefs a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Beyond the five receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown he had contributed at halftime, Rice’s return had an immediate impact on the entire Chiefs offense.
His presence opened up space for tight end Travis Kelce, who shone at halftime with two receptions and 51 yards, as well as speedster Xavier Worthy, who added 23 yards on two catches at halftime.
What’s next for Rice and the Chiefs
After a rough start to the season, in which they went 0-2, Kansas City has been making up ground. With Rice’s return, they are looking more and more like the team that has won three Super Bowls in the last six years.
The next month will be crucial for the team’s aspirations. They host Washington in Week 8, visit Buffalo in Week 9, and divisional rival Denver in Week 10, before playing at home against Indianapolis.
The road won’t be easy, but now with their full roster, the Chiefs once again appear to be the team to beat in the AFC.
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