Chiefs Should Benefit From Timing Of Rashee Rice’s Suspension

Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs runs onto the field during introductions prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in 2023. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is slated to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Tuesday, Sept. 30 in New York, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

That would represent the best-case scenario regarding a Rice suspension.

That’s because the Chiefs’ schedule is front-loaded, and Rice should be available for that difficult stretch of September games.

The Chiefs go across the world — to Brazil — to face the Los Angeles Chargers — perhaps their toughest challenger in the division — in Week One on Sept. 5. Then they face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who pummeled them 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX, in Week Two.

After a road game on Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants, which should be very winnable, they play the team perhaps best suited to overtake them in the AFC — the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson’s talented squad addressed their glaring weakness on pass defense by adding cornerback Jaire Alexander as a free agent and drafting safety Malaki Starks and edge rusher Mike Green in the first two rounds, respectively.

To put it another way, the Chiefs play three playoff teams from 2024 in the first four weeks of the 2025 season but just seven playoff teams from 2024 in the final 13 games of the 2025 season.

And Rice should be available for that entire opening gauntlet.

Why Rice Likely Will Be Suspended

Rice, who is on a four-year, $6.5 million rookie contract, likely will be disciplined for his multi-car crash in Dallas during May in 2024 when he was traveling at 119 mph in his Lamborghini. He had been facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.

A Dallas County judge sentenced him to five years probation and 30 days of jail, which can be served during those five years.

“My legal team is handling that,” Rice said. “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.”

Rice’s On-The-Field Focus

Though a groin injury kept him out of the opening game of the preseason, Rice was back practicing the past week and has impressed throughout training camp, saying he feels “100 %,” following last year’s season-ending knee injury suffered in Week Four.

Rice said he’s learned from his accident, which could’ve had a tragic outcome because of his irresponsible actions and that he now appreciates how valuable the opportunity is to get to play on the defending AFC champion Chiefs.

He’s preached hard work as he waits to learn his fate from the NFL.

“I’m locked in. This is what I do. This is my job. This is what I love to do. So I mean even when I’m not able to be out there with my team, I’m going to be working as hard as I can so I can be back out there with them as soon as possible,” he said. “Being able to be on the field and coached by Coach Reid and … such a great quarterback, it’s honestly a gift and a blessing.”

That star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, has focused on the here and now at training camp and the preseason. He continues to hone his connection with Rice, who excels at gaining yards after the catch, while the team waits to learn the details of a potential Rice suspension.

“You can’t worry about stuff that’s going to happen down the line,” Mahomes said. “All that stuff will handle itself.”

And it appears as if Rice’s suspension will handle itself in the best way possible for the Chiefs, allowing them to have one of their best receivers for the opening four games.