TheKansas City Chiefs are entering the 2026 season with a clear focus on improving their passing attack, as new wide receiver coach Chad O’Shea aims to maximize Patrick Mahomes’ talents, while questions loom over Rashee Rice’s future.
O’Shea brings decades of experience coaching receivers, including a tenure with Tom Brady in New England from 2009 to 2018, where his groups consistently ranked among the league’s best and won three Super Bowls.
Fixing the Chiefs’ wide receiver room is O’Shea’s top priority, emphasizing team-first culture and fundamentals. He wants players to execute their roles in the run game while maintaining focus on getting open and catching the football.
“We are going to put the team first in everything we do,” O’Shea told the Chiefs’ media. “It’s going to start with putting the team first. You’re going to have a group that’s going to be able to play fast from the line of scrimmage and block and compete in the run game.
“I keep it real simple in my teaching. I say get open, catch the ball, and compete in the run game. If you do those three things, we stand a chance to win at the receiver position.”
Despite Mahomes’ excellence, Kansas City’s receivers struggled. Xavier Worthy was limited to 532 yards after injuries, while Juju Smith-Schuster totaled 345 yards. Veteran tight end Travis Kelce remains a key target, though his 2026 return is uncertain.
Rashee Rice, drafted in the second round of 2023, showed promise as a rookie with 938 yards and seven touchdowns, but injuries and off-field issues have clouded his trajectory. Knee injuries, a suspension, and a concussion limited his second and third seasons.
Rashee Rice sued for domestic abuse: Is he too risky for Kansas City to keep?
Rice now faces a $1 million civil lawsuit, alleging repeated assault of his ex-girlfriend from 2023 to 2025 as the woman claiming he caused “severe and permanent injuries” at his homes in Dallas and Missouri.
Court filings detail multiple incidents, including Rice allegedly strangling, pushing, headbutting, and striking the woman, while also damaging property and locking her out at night, with some assaults occurring while she was pregnant.
The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages, including compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, medical costs, lost income, and permanent impairment. Punitive damages are also being pursued, citing intentional and grossly negligent conduct.
This legal trouble is separate from Rice’s previous criminal case stemming from a March 2024 high-speed crash. In that incident, he pleaded guilty to felony racing on a highway and causing serious bodily injury, and also received five years’ probation, heightening concerns about his off-field reliability.
These ongoing issues, combined with inconsistent performance due to injuries and suspensions, leave the Chiefs facing a critical decision regarding Rice’s role. His presence in the receiving corps could jeopardize team chemistry and put pressure on Mahomes’ offensive success.
Given the stakes, Kansas City must weigh Rice’s talent against potential distractions, as the front office seeks stability in a position that directly impacts Mahomes’ ability to execute. The WR room needs reliability, and Rice’s situation may force management to explore alternative options.
Read the full article here
