The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offense struggled last season, and the prolonged absence of wide receiver Rashee Rice was a major reason why. Unfortunately for the reigning AFC champions, something similar could be on the horizon.
On July 17, Rice was sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time stemming from a March 2024 multi-vehicle crash. The Chiefs’ top receiver is now “likely” to receive a suspension. As the offseason continues, how long would 2025’s missed time last?
Given that this is the NFL, it’s anyone’s guess. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk took a try, diving into the situation and what Rice could be looking at.
Mike Florio Guesses Rashee Rice Will Miss 8 Games This Season
Florio predicts that Rice and the league will agree on a middle ground. That not-so-happy medium is almost half the season, though.
“Given that Rice seems to be willing (as he should be) to accept the consequences of his behavior, he should be willing to accept whatever suspension the league wants,” Florio said. “Our guess (and it’s just a guess) is that the league will propose 10, Rice will propose six, and they’ll settle on eight.”
Florio cited two other suspension models as things to consider. Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker settled with the NFL and got a 10-week suspension. Current Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson took his situation to a judge and wound up getting 11 games and a hefty fine. Rice, of course, is dealing with a different set of charges. That’s more context – and it is just that, context – than precedent.
Although Florio notes that it “easily could be argued” that the league could demand a full-season suspension, he isn’t banking on it. The outcome of Rice’s crash may play a role in that calculus.
“Maybe the league will take it more seriously, given the behavior at issue,” Florio said. “In situations like this, however, the punishment fits not the crime but the outcome of it. If someone had been killed by Rice’s street racing, he’d miss at least a season. (He’d also spend much more than 30 days in jail.) While injuries happened, no one died. And that will make it more likely that the league won’t insist on something like a full-season suspension.”
Chiefs’ Offense Will Undoubtedly Miss Rice if Suspension Occurs
Prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2024, Rice was rolling. In three games, he hauled in 24 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. Amassing 29 targets, the former second-round pick emerged as the top dog for the Chiefs’ offense. Without him, more stress was placed on tight end Travis Kelce and then-rookie wideout Xavier Worthy.
If Rice gets a serious suspension, that offense will once again be left shorthanded. The good news is this time around, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is healthy and could help offset that loss. Still, though, it’s not an optimal scenario. In the event of a suspension similar to the length Florio cast out, perhaps an external addition makes sense. On a schedule-related note, a Chiefs playoff berth would presumably coincide with Rice being back from sitting out games.
In either event, Kansas City and Rice will look forward to moving past this. It’s a sad set of circumstances for everyone involved and while the end in sight isn’t pretty, it may provide a clean break.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Insider Speculates About Rashee Rice Suspension Length appeared first on Heavy Sports.