KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rashee Rice, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ No. 1 receiver, carried out properly in his first observe week since ending his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage, setting himself as much as play a large variety of snaps Sunday towards the Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
In his first public feedback since rejoining his teammates, Rice mentioned Friday that he spent a lot of his time throughout his suspension coaching in Florida and Texas. He did his personal particular person exercises, classes that included work on his route operating, his energy and situation, and his quickness.
Throughout coaching camp — even earlier than he was suspended by the league — Rice vowed to remain in form throughout his time away from his teammates.
“I attempted to maintain myself within the warmth, identical to [St. Joseph, Missouri],” Rice mentioned Friday, referencing the place the Chiefs conduct their coaching camp. “I skilled Monday via Friday and did some sort of exercise on Sunday to have my thoughts get able to get energetic on a sport day.”
In July, Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 5 years’ probation for his position in a multicar crash in Dallas that left a number of individuals injured throughout the 2024 offseason.
When the NFL handed down its suspension, which Rice didn’t attraction after the league’s inside investigation, it voided a Sept. 30 listening to earlier than former U.S. District Choose Sue L. Robinson that was scheduled to be held at league headquarters in New York. Rice, 25, pleaded responsible in district court docket to 2 third-degree felony prices — collision involving severe bodily damage and racing on a freeway inflicting bodily damage. He acquired deferred adjudication, and the case can be dismissed if he completes probation.
“Actually, it was a call that was greatest for not solely me however for the staff so I could possibly be right here proper now,” Rice mentioned of selecting to not attraction. “All of that’s over, so I’m prepared [to play]. I realized that I really like the sport of soccer. It’s most likely my second love [behind my family], however I used to be capable of understand how sturdy I’m mentally in having the ability to face plenty of adversity, on the time.”
After observing Rice for 3 practices, coach Andy Reid is optimistic that his prime receiver can regain his type sooner slightly than later.
“He seemed sharp,” Reid mentioned of Rice. “It’s not a sport, however what we requested him to do, he did properly. You may inform he’s in good condition. That’s all the time your fear when somebody misses a number of weeks, as a result of it’s completely different while you’re enjoying. However he busted his tail, so now it’s only a matter of getting in a sport and getting reps. We’ll see how all that goes.”
As a rookie in 2023, Rice led the Chiefs’ receivers with 79 receptions for 938 yards and 7 landing catches. Final yr, he suffered a season-ending damage in Week 4 after he tore the lateral collateral ligament in his proper knee. He had 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in these 4 video games.
Sunday’s sport would be the first time that Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown — the staff’s prime trio of receivers — will play snaps collectively. Even with out Rice, the Chiefs have averaged 31.6 factors up to now three video games, a stretch since Worthy returned to the lineup after he recovered from a dislocated proper shoulder damage.
“This week is basically large,” Rice mentioned. “I’m very excited to be on the market to compete.”
Rookie left sort out Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ 2025 first-round decide, missed this week of practices and isn’t anticipated to be out there for Sunday’s sport. Reid mentioned Josh Simmons’ absence was a “household state of affairs.”
Hours earlier than final Sunday’s sport towards the Detroit Lions, Simmons flew again to his hometown of San Diego for what the staff known as a private purpose. Reid on Friday didn’t give a timeline for when Simmons can be again with the staff.