The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs have developed a rivalry over the last few seasons as two of the best teams in the AFC. In the 2023 season, the Ravens fell at home to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. One player who played a part in that defeat of the Ravens was Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice.
In the AFC Championship game, Rice had eight receptions for 46 yards, which led Chiefs wide receivers that day. The following season, on the kickoff of the NFL’s regular season, Rice had an even better game against the Ravens. In that game, Rice had seven receptions for 103 yards and averaged 14.7 yards per catch. With Rice facing legal trouble last season, it seemed inevitable that he would face a suspension early this year, which would have kept him out of the Ravens game; however, that is now up in the air.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rice’s disciplinary hearing is now set for later in September, opening the door for Rice to play against Baltimore.
“Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Tuesday, September 30, in New York,” Schefter said. “This means that Rice now is likely to be able to play the first four weeks of this season before any potential discipline is imposed for his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas during the 2024 offseason.”
The Rice situation is still unfolding, but there are new details that may inform the outcome of his hearing.
Same Judge in Deshaun Watson Hearing
According to Adam Schefter, the judge presiding over Rashee Rice’s disciplinary hearing will be the same one as in Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s hearing.
“Sue L. Robinson, the former U.S. district judge who serves as the NFL and NFLPA’s jointly-appointed disciplinary officer, is scheduled to hear Rashee Rice’s Sept. 30 disciplinary case in New York,” Schefter said. “The only other NFL disciplinary hearing she has presided over was Deshaun Watson’s.”
From Robinson’s only prior NFL hearing, a rough timeline can be extrapolated for how Rice’s sentencing could go.
According to Dave Richard of CBS Sports, Robinson took over a month between the initial hearing on Watson’s case to determine a ruling. Also, following the verdict, there was an appeal from the NFL.
“She was the judge who ruled over the Deshaun Watson hearing on June 28, 2022. But Robinson didn’t rule on that case until August 1, 2022, just over a month after the hearing,” Richards said. “Then, after Robinson recommended a six-game suspension for Watson, the NFL appealed the decision. Soon after, the NFL and the NFL Players Association, representing Watson, agreed on an 11-game suspension with a $5 million fine.”
Rice’s sentencing could theoretically not be determined until the end of October, and Rice would be eligible to play in all games up until that point.
Chiefs Tough Start to the Season
The Chiefs are hoping to have Rashee Rice to start the season because their first four games will put them to the test immediately. The Chiefs begin the season against the Chargers in Brazil. They face the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles at home in Week 2, Week 3 is the team faces the Giants on the road, and Week 4 the Chiefs are back at home facing the Ravens: three playoff teams and two AFC contender matchups to start the season.
Rice has been a full participant in Chiefs training camp so far, but he knows the threat of suspension looms over him, as ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote about.
“All I can do is focus on what I can control right now, and that’s me doing what I do best right here on the field,” Rice said earlier this month. “I learned just how valuable any opportunity and moment is. This right here, us being able to be on the field and be coached by Coach [Andy] Reid and have such a great quarterback, is honestly a gift, a blessing.”
Time will tell when Rice’s suspension will actually hit, but for right now, it appears like he’ll be suiting up the Chiefs when they play the Ravens in Week 4.
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