KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been handed a six-game suspension for breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy. A trusted source with knowledge of the situation informed The Associated Press about the decision, emphasizing that Rice's suspension will prevent him from participating in several significant games, beginning with the upcoming season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the absence of an official announcement, revealed that Rice’s legal troubles stem from a serious incident. Approximately six weeks ago, Rice pled guilty to two third-degree felony charges related to a crash that resulted in serious bodily injury, along with charges for racing on a highway that caused bodily harm. This plea agreement arose from a crash that occurred on a Dallas highway in March 2024, where he was sentenced to five years of deferred probation and a 30-day jail term as part of his probation conditions.
The NFL's decision to suspend Rice came after an extensive internal investigation into his conduct. Notably, Rice has chosen not to appeal the suspension, which negates a scheduled hearing with former federal Judge Sue L. Robinson at the NFL headquarters in New York set for September 30. As a result of this suspension, Rice will miss crucial games, including a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 14 at Arrowhead Stadium, a Sunday night clash against the New York Giants, and a highly anticipated game against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on September 28, among others.
Rice's return to play is anticipated for October 19 when the Kansas City Chiefs face off against their AFC West rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders.
As of now, the Chiefs have not made Rashee Rice or head coach Andy Reid available for comments. Wednesday marked their final practice before entering game-week preparations for the Friday night matchup with the Chargers. Tight end Noah Gray expressed confidence in the team's game plan, stating, “We’re just going to go out there, trust what the coaches put on our plates, whatever game plan we have regardless of who is in there. I’m extremely confident in all the guys.”
Rice's legal troubles began when he was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at an alarming speed of 119 mph (191 kph) on the North Central Expressway. Prosecutors reported that he made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and collided with other vehicles. Following the crash, Rice did not check on the welfare of those affected and fled the scene on foot. In a statement through his attorney, Rice expressed remorse, stating he has experienced “a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages my actions caused” and is committed to making amends for those impacted.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office noted that the 25-year-old Rice would have some flexibility regarding his jail time. Additionally, he is required to cover the victims' out-of-pocket medical expenses, which total approximately $115,000. Reflecting on the incident, Rice remarked, “I’ve completely changed. You have to learn from things like that. All I can focus on is what I can control right now and that’s me doing what I do.”
After a promising rookie season, where Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games, his trajectory took a downturn in Week 4 when he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season, including the Super Bowl loss against Philadelphia. With the suspension, Rice will be barred from the practice facility until mid-next month, hindering his ability to contribute to the team.
In anticipation of Rice's suspension, the Chiefs made roster adjustments, retaining eight wide receivers as NFL roster cuts approached. This group includes rookie Jalen Royals, who is dealing with an injury, and Marquise Brown, who missed most of last season due to shoulder issues. The Chiefs will now rely on Brown and second-year player Xavier Worthy, alongside tight end Travis Kelce, to bolster their passing game. Other wide receivers on the initial roster include veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster, return specialist Nikko Remigio, preseason standout Tyquan Thornton, and Jason Brownlee, who spent part of last season with the Jets.
As the Chiefs prepare for the season without Rice, all eyes will be on how the team adapts and performs in his absence.
