Chiefs WR Rashee Rice makes job harder for Andy Reid as reports say he is likely to miss the rest of the season

ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport jointly confirmed that Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will undergo surgery to repair his LCL.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice makes job harder for Andy Reid as reports say he is likely to miss the rest of the season

Rashee Rice (Image via IMAGO)

The Kansas City Chiefs had to make sure of the severity of Rashee Rice’s injury first before releasing any news about a possible return. It seems Andy Reid has to plan without the second-year wide receiver for the rest of the season.

Rice was carted away when the Chiefs traveled to LA to play the Chargers. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes unintentionally collided with the wideout while trying to stop a pick-6.

YouTube video

Before the Chiefs took on the New Orleans Saints on Monday Primetime, ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided a positive update on Rice’s injury.

FS Video

After consulting today with doctors, there’s ‘a lot of optimism’ that standout WR Rashee Rice didn’t suffer a knee injury as significant as first believed, per source. Rice will be put under anesthesia Tuesday to determine the extent of his injury, but the belief now is it could be a ‘much shorter’ recovery timeline than originally thought.

Adam Schefter wrote on X

It was good news considering the SMU graduate has been Mahomes’ most targeted player besides Travis Kelce since the start of last season. However, just a few minutes after Schefter’s initial tweet, he posted another one.

It’s unlikely that Chiefs WR Rashee Rice will play again this season, but doctors will not know for sure until they perform surgery Tuesday morning, per source.

Adam Schefter wrote
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This was a complete 180 from ESPN’s top football news handler. Something must have changed within those moments, which changed Rice’s status from green to red in the blink of an eye.

Rashee Rice is likely out for the season

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport further expanded on Schefter’s initial report. Yet, even he kept the news vague enough to compile a concrete conclusion.

Rashee Rice injury update Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver makes job harder for Andy Reid as reports say he is likely to miss the rest of the season
Rashee Rice (Image via Imago)

During his routine appearance on the NFL Gameday Kick-off show, Rapoport gave the update.

Chiefs star WR Rashee Rice’s season is expected to be over, he did receive positive news today from Dr. Dan Cooper. Rice needs his LCL repaired, but there is a chance that’s the only ligament to be repaired. He’s expected to make a full recovery.

Ian Rapoport said

This only leaves more questions than answers.

The LCL is rarely injured to this degree without other significant damage. It’s not impossible that it’s only his LCL needing repair, but would be pretty unique (and positive) LCL repair return to sport is 4-6 months, so while it would end his season most likely, he would have most of the offseason to train.

Popular orthopedic specialist Dr. Tom Christ said via a tweet

If it’s within four months, then Rice has a case of becoming available in and around the playoffs in January. The Chiefs are favorites to reach their third consecutive Super Bowl, so there’s a chance fans might get to see #4 back in action.

Since making his debut in 2023, Rice has appeared in 20 games. In those games, he caught 103 passes for 1226 yards (11.9 yards per catch) and 9 total touchdowns.

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The Chiefs have a big challenge in their hands to play without both Rice and Hollywood Brown, who picked up an injury during the off-season. They drafted Texas graduate Xavier Worthy, re-signed veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster for added depth, and are among the candidates to land Davante Adams.