Chiefs' Rashee Rice focused on football, not potential suspension
Uncertainty surrounds Rice's availability to start the 2025 regular season
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice made his first media availability of training camp.
Rice, who was sentenced to 30 days in jail in mid-July, could be facing a suspension from the league and he was asked about his situation.
But the third-year wideout deferred to the ongoing process.
“Honestly, it’s still in the works,” Rice said. “My legal team is handling that. All I can do is focus on what I can control right now, and that’s me doing what I do best right here on the field.”
Whie Rice’s response doesn’t come as a surprise, he admitted to coming away with a life lesson.
“Just how valuable any opportunity is, and any moment is,” he said. “This right here, us being able to be on the field and being able to be coached by Coach (Andy) Reid and have such a great quarterback is kind of, honestly, a gift, it’s a blessing.”
Rice didn’t go too much into his situation, but there is uncertainty whether the Chiefs will have Rice to open the season or how long he might be absent should the NFL hand down a suspension.
The Chiefs, however, entered training camp with a plan in mind to address Rice’s potential absence.
While Rice has received his normal workload, rookie Jalen Royals and Tyquan Thornton have worked with the first-team offense throughout the past 10 practices. The rotation ensures the duo should be ready in the event they are called upon to do more when the regular season kicks off.
As for Rice, there could also be lingering questions about his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last season.
But he has absorbed a full workload during training camp, and he declared himself healthy.
“I feel 100 percent,” Rice said. “I’m excited to be back out here with the guys. It’s kind of basically where I left off at. Only thing is get back on the field and continue to have fun just doing what I do.”
In the meantime, that’s all the Chiefs and Rice can do until they hear from the league.
