With Week 1 on the horizon, one dark cloud continues to hang over the Kansas City Chiefs. Wide receiver Rashee Rice‘s legal situation may have been resolved, but the star pass catcher has yet to officially get suspended by the NFL following his March 2024 multi-vehicle crash.

On August 14, it was reported that a September 30 hearing was set for Rice’s matter. His disciplinary hearing with the NFL will be conducted before judge Sue L. Robinson, who famously proceeded over the Deshaun Watson case years ago. This new development opened the door for Rice to play in the Chiefs’ first four games of the regular season.

August 15 brings even more context to the situation. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media broke down the NFL’s proposed timeline for a Rice suspension and why it led to the hearing.

It’s a shocker. According to Pelissero, the league pitched a suspension of at least 10 games.

“My understanding is the NFL initially proposed a lengthy suspension: double-digit games for Rashee Rice,” Pelissero said. “The Players union and Rashee Rice’s attorney and agents argued for a much shorter suspension, in part because there is no precedent for suspending someone for over half a season in a case like this.”

Things don’t stop there. Pelissero added that although the hearing date is finalized with Robinson, Rice may never reach that point. It’s still on the table that both sides agree to a revised suspension timeline prior to September 30. In that event, his eligibility window of Weeks 1-4 could be impacted.

‘There is still a possibility that the sides could come together and agree to a settlement on a suspension that would allow Rice to be suspended at the start of the season,” Pelissero said. “If not, then he would be eligible for at least those first three games. But given the fact that not only the decision-making process, but potential appeals could extend that process into October or November if it goes before judge Robinson, this is something then that could potentially jeopardize his availability for the postseason.”

At the time of Rice’s legal case reaching its conclusion in mid-July, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk guessed the NFL would propose a 10-game suspension. With Pelissero’s report signaling just that, there’s now a clearer understanding of why Rice’s side wants a third party involved.