Fans Call out Multiple Chiefs Players Who Wore Shirts in Support of Suspended Teammate Rashee Rice After 119mph Crash

Travis Kelce and a few other Chiefs players wore a 'Free 4" t-shirt in support of Rashee Rice who has been suspended for six games.

Fans Call out Multiple Chiefs Players Who Wore Shirts in Support of Suspended Teammate Rashee Rice After 119mph Crash

Travis Kelce wore Rashee Rice inspired t-shirts before the Eagles fixture (Image via IMAGO/X)

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Hollywood Brown assumed the role of the primary receiver for Patrick Mahomes in the absence of Rashee Rice during the week one game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Brown caught 10 passes for 99 yards, while Mahomes went 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown.

Mahomes was also the leading rusher for the Chiefs with 6 carries for 57 yards and one score. Despite the 30-year-old’s heroics, the Chiefs succumbed to a 21-27 defeat.

Rice’s absence was apparent. But they still have to keep fielding a team without the former second-round pick until the middle of October. At present, he is serving a six-game ban for crashing his Lamborghini Urus on the North Central Highway in Dallas.

The incident took place in March 2024. A Chevrolet Corvette, together with Rice’s car, smashed into the guardrail. It affected a couple of other vehicles on the tarmac, causing a chain accident.

Rice and his buddies left the scene without seeing the need to inform the authorities. He surrendered himself and was charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injuries.

Rice juggled visits to court and Chiefs duties until week four, when he suffered an LCL injury. It ended his season.

The league held extensive discussions to decide on Rice’s punishment during the recently concluded offseason. Initially, they were ready to slap a 10-game ban on the 25-year-old but settled for six.

It means the earliest Rice can return to the Chiefs roster is the Las Vegas Raiders game in week seven.

Before the week two fixture against the Philadelphia Eagles, some Chiefs players, including star tight end Travis Kelce, wore t-shirts with the message “Free 4.”

A Rashee Rice-less Chiefs lost the Eagles fixture

The Chiefs went down in what many considered a Super Bowl LIX rematch against the Eagles. Mahomes threw 16 completions for 187 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He led the rushing department in back-to-back weeks, with 7 carries for 66 yards and one score.

Fans Call out Multiple Chiefs Players Who Wore Shirts in Support of Suspended Teammate Rashee Rice After 119mph Crash
Rashee Rice (Image via IMAGO)

Brown regressed to just 30 yards, while Kelce caught 4 for 66 yards. The Chiefs would go on to lose 20-17, marking Mahomes’ first three straight losses of his NFL career.

In the meantime, social media was divided into three factions. One side expressed disappointment with the defeat, the second one demanded the Eagles’ tush push to be banned, and the third group condemned the Chiefs players who wore the Rice t-shirts.

Head coach Andy Reid was asked for his opinion on his players wearing ‘Free 4’ t-shirts.

I know these guys love Rashee and they feel for him sitting out here. I think it’s no more than that. Those guys love the kid and want him to feel part of it in their own way.

Andy Reid said via Chiefs beat writer for AtoZ Sports, Charles Goldman

Xavier Worthy missed the Eagles’ tie due to injuring his shoulder in week one. To make matters worse, he will most likely miss the week three bout against the New York Giants.

The Chiefs signed Tyquan Thornton and brought back veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster to cover for such scenarios. Neither made much impact in the first two games.

It’s apparent that Mahomes is missing his two favorite targets on game days. Kelce is trying his best to fill in, but he’s pushing 36. For the Chiefs to get back to winning ways, one of their available receivers must step up to the plate and be the WR1.

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