For the first time in over a year, the Kansas City Chiefs are planning to go into a game with their full contingency of wide receivers healthy and available. An injury bug that began with Hollywood Brown getting injured in the 2024 preseason stretched out for the entire season before showing lingering effects this year as well. Perhaps the biggest blow to the Chiefs from that unit was the one to Rashee Rice, who was quickly becoming a standout for the franchise.
A season-ending injury to his LCL and hamstring in Week 4 last year, followed by a suspension from the NFL for six weeks to begin the season, meant he was unavailable for Kansas City until now. However, he is set to return on Sunday when they face the Las Vegas Raiders. Following his return, Rice posted a video on social media that quickly went viral. It even brought out a reaction from his fellow draft class wide receiver, Jayden Reed.
Jayden Reed Shares Feelings on Rashee Rice Returning in Week 7
Rice came into the league after a strong run at SMU, taken in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft for a Chiefs team that needed more weapons around Patrick Mahomes following the Tyreek Hill trade.
He immediately impacted the offense, tallying 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. His numbers continued to improve throughout the year, culminating in an outstanding postseason run, where he set the all-time rookie postseason record with 26 receptions for 262 yards.
Three weeks into his sophomore season, it seemed like he was taking another leap forward. When he went out against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, he was already up to 288 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Since then, the Chiefs’ offense hasn’t looked the same, ranking outside the top-10 of PFSN’s Offense Impact last year. In the previous three games, though, the unit has had a noticeable uptick as the group has started getting healthier.
That could take a major step forward starting Week 7 when Rice is integrated back into the mix. After his return, the superstar wide receiver posted an Instagram video featuring a training montage in which he ran routes and participated in water activities.
The video quickly gained traction on social media, with the Green Bay Packers wide receiver also reacting to the clip. Writing “wait is ova” on the video, it got a like from the Chiefs superstar. Part of the same draft class, Reed and Rice have had mirroring individual careers.
Taken five picks before him, Reed quickly became a major part of the Green Bay attack, tallying 793 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season, before upping the numbers to 857 yards in year two.
Unfortunately, this season got off to a rough start for him as he suffered a collarbone fracture early in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. With a six-to-eight week recovery time, his return could also be around the corner.
Both wide receivers should give their teams a significant boost upon their return. Kansas City gets whole this week, but the Packers aren’t far behind.
