Rashee Rice has been among the NFL‘s most productive wideouts early in the 2024 campaign. But the Kansas City Chiefs‘ WR1 was injured early in his club’s Week 4 games against the Los Angeles Chargers. Here’s the latest on Rice.
What Happened to Chiefs WR Rashee Rice in Week 4?
Rice was injured on a play with multiple turnovers.
Patrick Mahomes threw a first-quarter interception, but Rice forced Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton to fumble. While Kansas City recovered (on a call that was eventually reversed), Mahomes appeared to take out Rice’s right knee while trying to make a tackle.
Rashee Rice gets injured trying to make a tackle after this Patrick Mahomes INT pic.twitter.com/wgn05fsvt8
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 29, 2024
Rice had to be helped off the field and spent some time on the Chiefs’ bench. He was eventually carted back to the locker room with a towel over his head. Kansas City initially listed Rice as questionable to return with a knee injury. However, they quickly updated his status, officially ruling him out at the end of the first quarter.
Asked by CBS’ Tracy Wolfson if he had a halftime update on Rice, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said, “No, but it’s not good.”
Reid took a similar tone after Kansas City’s victory, noting that Rice will undergo an MRI on Monday but adding that the Chiefs aren’t expecting good news. “I feel terrible for Rashee,” Reid said, per ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry. “We will hope for the best.”
Through three weeks, Rice had more than built upon his outstanding 2023 rookie campaign.
Kansas City’s underneath passing strategy has benefitted Rice, who entered Week 4 leading the league with 23 receptions and 3.39 yards per route run. While he’s only averaged 5.21 air yards per route, Rice had made up for his lack of depth by averaging 7.8 yards after the catch, fourth-best among wideouts.
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Rice’s injury is the latest in a long line of health issues that have hit the Chiefs’ offense early this year. Wideout Hollywood Brown — whom K.C. signed to a one-year deal this offseason — suffered a preseason shoulder injury and won’t play in 2024. Running back Isiah Pacheco broke his fibula in Week 2 and is out indefinitely.
Fantasy Implications of Rice’s Injury
A severe Rice injury will have wide-ranging implications for the Chiefs’ offensive game plan.
For Mahomes, Rice’s loss would represent yet another hit to his offensive weaponry. Rice is at the center of Kansas City’s offense. His 33.3% target share ranks second only to New York Giants rookie wideout Malik Nabers.
While future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce could handle more of Rice’s short and intermediate routes, he turns 35 this week and has struggled to begin his 13th NFL campaign. Kelce has yet to hit five catches of 35 yards in a single game this season.
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First-round rookie Xavier Worthy scored two touchdowns in Week 1 but has been quiet since, entering Week 3 with just 81 total receiving yards. He’s had trouble earning looks from Mahomes. While Worthy ran 75 routes from Weeks 1 to 3 (55th among WRs), his 14.6% target rate ranked just 100th positionally.
The Chiefs could lean into their elite offensive line and pound the rock with Carson Steele, Samaje Perine, and Kareem Hunt — but that’s never been Reid’s style.
While Kelce and Worthy will see an increase in targets if Rice is sidelined for an extended period, K.C. might consider adding an external wide receiver to a depth chart that includes Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, and Mecole Hardman.