The Kansas City Chiefs will likely have to continue their quest for a third straight Super Bowl without No. 1 wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is believed to have suffered a season-ending ACL tear.
Rice got hurt in the first quarter of a 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. After Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an interception, Rice attempted to tackle safety Derwin James and prevent a pick-six. While doing so, he collided with Mahomes and hurt his knee.
Rice was carted off from the field and was later ruled out following a checkup.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs fear that Rice suffered an ACL tear, meaning he would be ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid said that Rice will undergo an MRI on Monday but that he doesn’t expect good news.
“I feel terrible for Rashee because he’s been having a fantastic year,” Reid added.
Rashee Rice has been the Chiefs’ leading wideout in 2024, catching 24 passes for 288 receiving yards and two touchdowns. With him out, the team is expected to lean more on rookie Xavier Worthy and potentially give veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster a more prominent role.
After the win over the Chargers, the Chiefs remain perfect in the season and are the only 4-0 team in the AFC.
