As the Kansas City Chiefs head into the 2025-26 season, they have a clearer idea of who will be on the team. The club’s 53-man roster is set, although there was still the possible suspension of wide receiver Rashee Rice looming.
August 27 saw a new development in that ongoing saga. According to a Wednesday morning report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL was aiming for “at least” a six-game suspension of the star wideout.
“NFL is aiming for at least a potential six-game suspension for Chiefs WR Rashee Rice for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, sources tell ESPN,” Schefter’s tweet began. “The suspension would kick in at the start of this season.”
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media announced that Rice is “accepting and will serve” said suspension. It starts in Week 1.
Insiders Drop Additional Details on Suspension for Chiefs WR Rashee Rice
This is a noteworthy shift from previous reports. On August 15, Pelissero revealed that the league wanted 10 or more games for Rice.
“My understanding is the NFL initially proposed a lengthy suspension: double-digit games for Rashee Rice,” Pelissero said. “The Players union and Rashee Rice’s attorney and agents argued for a much shorter suspension, in part because there is no precedent for suspending someone for over half a season in a case like this.”
Pelissero’s first report roughly aligned with what Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk estimated in July.
“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.”
As things previously stood, Rice had a disciplinary hearing with the league set for September 30. That was to be held before judge Sue L. Robinson. Waiting until then would’ve kept Rice eligible to play to start the year, albeit with no guarantees elsewhere. A pre-hearing settlement throws all of that to the wayside.
Kansas City carried eight wideouts on its initial roster.
The Chiefs’ first six games of the 2025-26 season are against the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions.
Rice Eyeing Productive Season for Kansas City Upon Return
It’s been a long year-plus for Rice, to say the least. Earlier in the summer, he was sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time stemming from a March 2024 multi-vehicle crash. That arrived amidst an ongoing offseason in which the former second-round pick continued working out with the Chiefs.
Speaking to the media at training camp, Rice expressed how grateful he is to be approaching the other side of a tumultuous time. He’s more appreciative now than ever.
“Just how valuable any opportunity is and any moment is,” Rice said. “This right here, us being able to be on the field and be able to be coached by coach [Andy] Reid and have such a great quarterback is honestly a gift. It’s a blessing. Honestly, to not take advantage of opportunities like this.”
He also provided an update on his surgically-repaired knee.
“I was able to work on things I didn’t know I’d have to focus on in my knee,” Rice said. “My right knee, shoutout to Dr. Cooper, who did a great job on my knee. I just got to focus on small things, which helped me improve my game on the field.”
In three games to start last season, Rice hauled in 24 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. A knee injury ended his year. He’s a go-to target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but one who will now be set to debut in Week 7’s game versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
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