Little definitive remains known about the right knee injury that Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice suffered on Sunday, in the first quarter of Kansas City‘s eventual come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Many suspected that Rice had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in that knee, which would have ended his 2024 season, but the final diagnosis is yet to come — generating optimism that the second-year standout could return at some point.
Rice’s injury occurred when quarterback Patrick Mahomes accidentally slid into his teammate’s leg while trying to make a block on Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton. But in the face of what was initially feared to be a devastating injury, Rice has reacted in an unusual manner that says a lot about the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs as a team.
Rice channels a beloved cartoon
Rice took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired meme about his injury, demonstrating the humorous and light-hearted way he is approaching the situation. Rice is crediting God for the way he apparently has avoided a ligament tear — although more tests are reportedly still needed.
Mahomes stuck by Rice as the wideout endured a difficult offseason, centered on pending litigation over his role in a hit-and-run accident on a Dallas freeway at the end of March. Rice is now doing the same for Mahomes, who came under fire a bit for inadvertently taking out his own teammate — not to mention the Chiefs’ best receiver so far.
Rice is expected to miss at least a few weeks with a possible ligament sprain, but that is likely the best news Kansas City can receive about his status going forward. It means Rice will be back at some point in 2024 to contribute to the Chiefs’ pursuit of NFL history as the first team ever to win the Super Bowl in three consecutive seasons.
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