Last season, everyone expected Jalen Royals to be the natural replacement for Rashee Rice during Rice’s suspension. Knee tendinitis put a stop to that, but right now, he is taking advantage of the fact that Rashee Rice is not at OTAs.

“Yeah, so they’re rotating in with the first group,” Reid said. “And Rashee Rice is not here. It gives Jalen Royals some great reps with the wide receiver position. Strong, he looks strong out there and running well, and that whole deal. So, it’s great for him. It’s great for him and for the quarterbacks to see what he’s all about on repeated reps.”

When will the Chiefs return to their OTAs

The Kansas City Chiefs officially concluded their first of two weeks of OTAs on Thursday, May 28. The team will reconvene on Monday, June 1, for their second week of OTAs before a five-day break between OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

A golden opportunity for Royals

A fourth-round pick out of Utah State in 2025, Jalen Royals caught two passes on three targets for four yards during his NFL rookie season. This year, it seems like he will have an opportunity to secure a larger role in the offense.

He needs to stay healthy regarding his knee, but it feels especially true if he continues to take advantage of these early offseason practice days and builds on them going forward.

Andy Reid on Patrick Mahomes’ recovery

Patrick Mahomes is participating in practice, but only in a limited capacity. Coach Andy Reid does not like to use the “ahead of schedule” phrasing; however, it is clear that Patrick Mahomes is making tremendous progress as he returns from a season-ending knee injury. “I like what I’ve seen,” Reid said of Mahomes.

“He’s working hard. This is good for him, I mean, getting out there and throwing it’s good rehab, as he continues rehab, so he keeps a feel with the receivers, where he’s doing partial practice, and, but it’s important, it’s important to keep his timing up, and he’s busted his tail to put himself in this position, most guys wouldn’t even be able to do this, but he’s put himself in that position, and I know we’ve got good communication with the doctors, and they’re, you know, they keep a close eye on it, and what’s real and what’s not real, so and then we just, we listen to them.”

Patrick Mahomes participated in 7-7 team drills, but he is not cleared to participate in 11-11 yet. That is not so much about his ability to run or cut as it is to protect him from incidental contact, and Reid said it is to avoid plays with any fly or sweep motion that could lead to a collision in the backfield.

Earlier this month, Rice was taken into custody after a drug test revealed he had tested positive for THC, violating the terms of the five-year probation agreement stemming from his high-speed, multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in 2024. His 30-day jail stint means he will completely miss the Chiefs’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp.

Following the news, Andy Reid addressed the media on Thursday, confirming that he intends to have a serious conversation with Rice regarding his off-field behavior to prevent any further lapses in judgment.

“When he gets back, we’ve got to get him caught up… and make sure he gets it… Life lessons are important. We’re all given chances to learn,” Andy Reid said, per Charles Goldman.

Chiefs’ long-term commitment to Rice questions surface

Rice joined the Chiefs as a second-round pick in 2023 and put together a stellar rookie campaign, recording 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. However, his ongoing off-field issues have created an unexpected barrier between the club and the player.

According to reports, Kansas City has put any potential contract extension talks on ice due to his compounding legal instability. While Rice has proven to be an elite asset in Patrick Mahomes‘ offense when on the field, his lack of availability conflicts with the disciplined, competitive culture Reid is trying to maintain.

With Rice’s long-term future in question, offseason rumors continue to link the Chiefs to external veteran wideouts. Star names like Stefon Diggs or A.J. Brown have surfaced in league circles, suggesting that if the front office does not see significant personal growth from Rice, they may be forced to look for a permanent replacement sooner rather than later.

An overview of the Chiefs’ 2026 wide receiver room

Despite the headaches his legal troubles cause, the reality remains that Andy Reid drastically needs a healthy and focused Rashee Rice. He currently projects as the clear-cut WR1 for a passing attack that faces prominent depth concerns entering the 2026 season.

Behind Rice on the depth chart sits dynamic wideout Xavier Worthy, who is currently managing a shoulder issue. With Rice sidelined for the summer, the top remaining targets at Mahomes’ disposal include a re-signed Tyquan Thornton, alongside younger developmental options like Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, and Nikko Remigio.

Adam Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee show and said, “Rashee Rice is going into the last year of his contract without a new deal on the horizon.. It’s really unfortunate because it’s all there for him.”

Between the off-field incidents and injuries, Rice has turned a hugely promising career into one that could see him test free agency instead of getting a huge paycheck. Rice will miss OTAs due to being in jail and has been suspended previously for violating the NFL‘s personal conduct policy. He could be suspended again.

Rice is the Chiefs best WR, but they might be tired of his shennanigans

No one will deny that Rashee Rice is a very talented player. Whether he belongs in the upper echelon of WRs in the NFL or in a second tier is up for debate but he is an incredible talent. In fact, he is the best WR on the Chiefs, without hesitation. Having said that, even when he’s on the field his attitude is causing problems.

However, Rice missed 13 games in 2024, and nine games in 2025. Whether it’s him nursing injuries or getting suspended, the Chiefs are likely thinking that he is not reliable. Availability is the best ability at the end of the day.

Chiefs don’t have much in the WR department

The leverage Rashee Rice has over the Chiefs is how thin the WR depth chart is. This has happened before, and as soon as Rice is back on the field, he is crucial for the offense. The next best wideouts on the Chiefs are Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton.

They failed to address this need in free agency and in the NFL Draft. The only move they did, besides a lot of UDFAs, was picking Cyrus Allen in the fifth round. Hence, at least for this season, Rice is needed. However, if the Chiefs opt to not give him a new contract, WR will be the No.1 priority for them.

“Do they circle back and maybe look at the idea of trading for AJ Brown? I don’t think that happens. They had that opportunity. They were on AJ Brown’s list. They said no to the Eagles in the first place,” the insider stated on The Breer Report.

The future of one of the most consistent receivers for the Philadelphia Eagles in recent years still appears uncertain. Could the New England Patriots ultimately be Brown’s destination? What is clear is that it seems he will likely not be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in the 2026 NFL season.

What happened with Rashee Rice?

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was ordered to jail on Tuesday after testing positive for THC, a direct violation of his probation terms following his 2024 high-speed crash. A Dallas County judge revoked his release conditions and ordered him to serve a 30-day sentence immediately, keeping him behind bars until June 16.

The Chiefs’ interesting receiving corps

Rashee Rice’s incident does not rule him out of Andy Reid’s plans for the upcoming NFL season. Additionally, with the unlikely arrival of A.J. Brown, the experienced head coach can rely heavily on players such as Tyquan Thornton and Xavier Worthy, among others.

What lies ahead for the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to begin Phase 3 of their offseason program with voluntary OTAs scheduled for May 26–28 and June 1–3. Following those sessions, the team will transition immediately into their Mandatory Minicamp from June 9–11, marking the final official team practices before breaking for the summer ahead of Training Camp in late July.

“Rice was taken into custody after he tested positive for THC, which violated the terms of his plea agreement in a high-speed, multi-vehicle crash in 2024 on a Dallas highway,” as reported by Addi Weakley on KSHB.

“Rashee Rice is serving his original 30-day sentence as part of him pleading guilty to felony collision,” Nate Taylor of ESPN reported. Rice was always going to serve 30 days in jail, but testing positive for THC meant he no longer had the benefit of choosing when to serve the delayed sentence.

Instead, it will have to be served under the terms set by the county jail. And as a result, the Chiefs will be without their No. 1 wide receiver during OTAs and minicamp. For the second straight year, Rice will miss valuable time with his teammates in Kansas City.

Important dates of Chiefs’ program

According to documents from the Dallas County court, Rice will be released from jail on June 16. Rice was—and still is—on probation for five years due to his involvement in a high-speed, multi-vehicle crash in 2024.

Per Chiefs Wire, Kansas City has separated the roster into two groups, which will hold their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on different days. Per the source, the first group will kick off its OTAs on May 26-28, while the second unit will do so on June 1-3. Mandatory minicamp will take place on June 9-11.

Because Rice won’t be released until June 16—and there is no way the Chiefs can change their offseason program schedule on the fly—it’s been confirmed that the wideout will be absent during a crucial stretch of the offseason.

Rice was suspended last year

The former SMU alum has caused several headaches for the Chiefs in recent years. Indeed, he puts up extraordinary numbers on the gridiron, but at some point, the cons may far outweigh the pros for Kansas City. From a PR standpoint, it’s undoubtedly difficult to overcome.

Last season, the Chiefs missed Rice during the opening six games, as he was suspended by the NFL following the high-speed highway crash. They went 3-3 without him. Whether the league will hand down a suspension of its own to Rice ahead of the 2026 campaign remains to be seen, though it does not seem especially likely. At least not unless he is involved in another offseason mishap.

They were asked “do you want a rookie or a vet in the wide receiver room?” to which Thornton replied “a dog.” Rice went more in depth, saying “AJ Brown would be nice in the room, but we go get Carnell Tate or something, that’d be fire too.“

There’s been a topic of discussion that the Chiefs WR room is very young, so an experienced, proved weapon like Brown would be amazing. He would immediately become the number one option for Patrick Mahomes.

Rice has failed to establish himself as a true number one

Availability is the best ability, and between injuries and offseason shenanigans, Rice hasn’t been there for the Chiefs. He’s only played in 28 games out of 51 available. While he’s very talented, and unarguably a volume receiver, he is not on the level of AJ Brown, for instance.

Rice is a reliable option on the slot, but pairing him with a certified top five wideout in AJ Brown would be a massive problem, considering that Travis Kelce is also returning. However, AJ Brown’s future is up in the air and no formal information regarding a Chiefs move to get Brown has been reported.

The Chiefs offense needs revamping

The Chiefs ranked 20th in total offense last season, and that speaks about the regression the unit had. Changes were made. Matt Nagy was cleared off his role of offensive coordinator. Also, Eric Bieniemy was brought back to bring the best version out of Patrick Mahomes. Now, they only need a top wideout.

Despite this particular situation, which could undoubtedly have affected the final outcome of the game, Mahomes has full confidence in his key weapons — the very players who have helped him secure multiple titles since joining the league.

“He’s a champion for a reason,” the quarterback said about Kelce. “He knows what it takes, and he’s made that play 99 percent of the time. And I got to give him a better chance with a ball maybe more on his body. So, I’ll never question that.”

He also made a specific reference to Rice: “I’m gonna go to those guys in big moments. Those guys have made plays in Super Bowls. They’ve made plays in AFC championship games.

“So, obviously, it didn’t go our way today. I had a lot to do with that myself. And so, regardless of what happens the rest of this season, we’ll give everything we have every snap and give ourselves the best chance to go out there and make a run.”

Dim night for Kelce and Rice

The Chiefs suffered a critical loss where their normally reliable receiving corps struggled with ball security at the worst possible moments. Rashee Rice failed to secure a vital fourth-down pass in the final quarter while the team was down by seven points (17-10); this turnover on downs effectively gifted the Texans the necessary field position to extend their lead.

Compounding the issue, veteran Travis Kelce saw his final drive attempt end prematurely after he dropped back-to-back passes, with the second errant target deflecting off his hands and resulting in a game-sealing interception.

One of Patrick Mahomes’ key offensive weapons missed the first six games of the season due to an off-field suspension, but now, pending on the head coach’s decision, he’ll finally be available at Arrowhead.

Rice was active throughout the past week leading up to the game, taking part in all drills alongside his teammates—showing clear signs that his desire to contribute right away remains as strong as ever.

“I’ve been looking forward to this, I think it’s been 380-something days since I have played in a regular-season game,” the former SMU standout stated to the press before this crucial game vs. Raiders. “I mean, it’s been a long time coming,” he also added. “The time is finally here.”

What happened to Rashee Rice?

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice missed the first six games of the 2025 season as he served a suspension for violating the NFL‘s Personal Conduct Policy. The ban stemmed from his role in a multi-car crash in March 2024, where he pleaded guilty to felony charges including racing on a highway and fleeing the scene. Rice has now been officially reinstated and is set to make his anticipated season debut this Sunday.

A key clash against the Raiders

The Kansas City Chiefs‘ Week 7 clash against the rival Las Vegas Raiders is a pivotal opportunity for the reigning AFC champions to establish their season momentum.

Currently sitting at a modest 3-3, a victory would push the Chiefs above the .500 mark for the first time this year at 4-3, providing much-needed stability in the AFC West race.

Adding to the drama, the contest marks the highly anticipated return of star wide receiver Rashee Rice from his six-game suspension, injecting a significant potential boost to a Chiefs offense that has shown flashes but is still looking for consistency as it tries to secure a crucial divisional win at Arrowhead.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for their divisional matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. More than that, they are also raving about the fact that wide receiver Rashee Rice will make his season debut and the quarterback explained why he is so crucial.

During his Wednesday press conference, Mahomes explained what makes Rice so important. Rice catches passes underneath and then adds yards after catch like a master. Hence, Mahomes warned the Raiders, “Are you going to sit back and let us throw stuff underneath, or are you going to come up and have to deal with all that speed running down the field? And so that’s a good problem to showcase towards defenses.”

Now, Rice hasn’t played since Week 4 of last year after suffering a season-ending injury and then getting suspended by the NFL due to off-field issues. Therefore, it’s fair to wonder how fit will Rice be for this game. He’s been off the field for a long time.

Rice’s numbers are underrated

Rice is in his third year in the NFL. During his rookie year, he had 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. In his second year, he was averaging 72 yards per game and had two touchdowns.

He also is clearly a guy who racks up yards and has Mahomes’ confidence. He averages 9.4 yards per target. Mahomes has a 122.2 passer rating when targeting Rice too. The Chiefs will be way better with him on the field.

The Chiefs’ offense has improved rapidly this season

Mahomes and the Chiefs started somewhat slow this season due to injuries and some adjustments. However, the last three weeks have seen the best of this offense and arguably the best version of Mahomes since 2022.

They scored 37 against Baltimore, 28 against Jacksonville and 30 against the Lions. Now you add Rashee Rice to that unit and the Chiefs might become the best offense in the NFL.

On Monday, the Chiefs decided to waive veteran wide receiver Jason Brownlee, paving the way for Rice to join Mahomes and company on the 53-man roster. Despite making an impression in preseason and training camp, Brownlee’s fate appeared to be sealed.

Not only does Rice’ return represent a much-needed addition for Mahomes, but other wideouts in Kansas City also gave Reid a reason to stay on the team. Tyquan Thornton, for instance, has seen his role increase during the 2025 NFL season.

Who are the Chiefs WRs for Reid and Mahomes with Rice back?

Rice is now expected to boost a Chiefs WR room that, apart from Thornton, also counts on Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, and Nikko Remigio.

Moving forward with eight wideouts simply wasn’t the best idea for Reid, though this may not be the end for Brownlee in Kansas City. After clearing waivers on Tuesday, the veteran pass catcher can still return to the Chiefs’ practice squad.

Having Brownlee on the scout team would make sense for Reid, as we’re talking about a player familiar with Mahomes and the system. An undrafted free agent in 2023, Brownlee spent a year and a half with the New York Jets before joining the Chiefs in January 2025.

Rashee Rice was handed a suspension for an off-the-field incident, forcing him to miss not only the first six games of the season but also to stay away from team practices with the Chiefs during that time.

Reid knows that the wide receiver’s return to the first team is a breath of fresh air and isn’t concerned about any potential rust. While Rice wasn’t able to train with the team, his personal preparation has given the head coach plenty of confidence.

“I know he’s been working like crazy, the rule states that we can’t work with him,” Reid said. “He has been working out hard, and I think it’s just a matter of getting him back in the swing. I’ve got to see it to work through it, but I know he’s in good shape, that’s the one thing I do know.

“I think that’ll be important, getting him back in there, getting him with Patrick, getting them on the same page. We’ll see how all that works out. We haven’t put the game plan in yet so we’re working through all that now.”

Rashee Rice’s impact on Mahomes’ game

Rashee Rice’s absence has been a tangible weight on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ aerial attack this season. As Mahomes’ most reliable receiver and a premier YAC (Yards After Catch) threat, Rice’s six-game suspension left a significant void in the offense’s verticality and intermediate routes.

While Kansas City‘s deep receiving corps adapted, the lack of his consistent, dynamic playmaking often forced the offense to lean heavily on Travis Kelce, underscoring just how critical Rice’s established chemistry and reliable hands are to unlocking Mahomes’ full potential.

What went down with Rashee Rice?

Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice was handed a six-game suspension for violating the NFL‘s Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from his involvement in a high-speed, multi-car collision in Dallas in March 2024.

The discipline followed Rice’s plea of guilty to felony charges, including collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway, where he admitted to leaving the scene without providing aid.