Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Rashee Rice is anticipated to miss the remainder of the 2024 season. However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Rice’s surgery on October 8 resulted in a “best case scenario” outlook for his future.
“Sources: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice underwent successful LCL surgery today with Dr. Cooper and will miss the remainder of the regular season,” Schultz shared on X. “A full recovery is expected.”
Schultz added that “there was also a repair done to Rice’s hamstring tendon, and I’m told there was no structural damage or tears to the ACL or meniscus, and no long-term concerns.”
Unfortunate Turn of Events Officially End Rice’s 2024 Season
Rice was initially sidelined when quarterback Patrick Mahomes II inadvertently crashed into his knee while attempting to tackle a defender after an interception against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chiefs quickly ruled Rice out for Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints and announced plans for a knee scope procedure. Ultimately, it was revealed that he had LCL damage that required surgery.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Schultz noted that the fact the ACL and meniscus remain intact offers a small silver lining in an otherwise disappointing situation.
Before his injury, Rice was having a standout season. Through his first 155 offensive snaps (three starts and a few more), the 2023 second-round pick caught 24 of 29 targets for 288 receiving yards, 15 first downs, and 2 touchdowns. Mahomes had a 65.5% success rate when targeting Rice, who boasted an impressive 82.8% catch rate.
Chiefs Triumph Over Saints in Week 5 & Prepare for 49ers Rematch in Week 7
The Kansas City Chiefs are currently on their bye week, giving head coach Andy Reid two full weeks to prepare for their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. However, this anticipated Week 7 clash won’t be the Super Bowl rematch initially expected when the NFL schedule was released. The Chiefs will be without key players, including Rice, RB Isiah Pacheco, and WR Hollywood Brown, while the 49ers are dealing with injuries to RB Christian McCaffrey, DT Javon Hargrave, LB Dre Greenlaw, and first-round WR Ricky Pearsall, among others.
Adding to the challenges, the struggling Niners enter Week 6 with a 2-3 record, facing a crucial NFC West matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.
Despite these injuries, the Chiefs are enjoying a strong 5-0 start to the season. In Week 5, they defeated the Saints with relative ease, thanks to standout performances from superstar tight end Travis Kelce, returning running back Kareem Hunt, and veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Additionally, the defense has been performing consistently well.
Over the past three weeks, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit has held opponents to under 20 points, with the highest score against the Chiefs in 2024 being 25 points, recorded by the AFC rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Whether it’s Mahomes stepping up, a breakout performance from a supporting player, or key defensive plays, the Chiefs continue to succeed despite the absences of Brown, Pacheco, and Rice.
“These guys… they don’t flinch on [injury absences],” Reid said following the victory over the Saints. “They just [send] the next guy up, and he goes. I’m proud of them for that… They just know they can trust the next guy to come in and do a good job.”
