The Kansas City Chiefs won’t get star wide receiver Rashee Rice back on the field until their Week 7 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, but there was an update from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on September 21 that notes the playmaker will actually return to team facilities after Week 3.

“Chiefs WR Rashee Rice, suspended the first 6 games for violating the personal conduct policy, is allowed back in KC’s facility after this week, per terms of his suspension,” Rapoport relayed on X.

The insider went on to explain that “while he can’t practice, Rice can participate in meetings and ramp up for a W7 return vs the Raiders.”

This is undoubtedly encouraging news for the Chiefs, as it hints Rice will be ready to go the moment his suspension is over. Sometimes, when a player returns from a long suspension, they require a week or two to get themselves back in shape and mentally ready to take the field.

With this update in mind, Rice just has to keep himself in good shape in order to start right away in Week 7. Outside of maintaining a personal training regimen away from the team, the Chiefs’ top playmaker should be on the same page as head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes since he’ll be sitting in on team meetings and film sessions over the next few weeks.

Rice missed the majority of the 2024 season with a knee injury, but the Chiefs were able to account for his absence, for the most part. After all, up until the Super Bowl defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, there was never really a moment for KC looked overmatched without Rice.

That hasn’t been the case in 2025, and the major difference is the Chiefs have not had Xavier Worthy either.

Last year, it was Worthy who was healthy and Hollywood Brown who was sidelined. With roles reversed, Kansas City has been slighlty less dynamic on offense — and that’s no offense to Brown, who has played well.

Another difference is the impact of Travis Kelce. The future Hall of Fame tight end turns 36 in a couple of weeks, and with every passing season, he becomes just a little bit easier for opposing defenses to guard.

The same could probably be said about veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Without Worthy, and with Kelce and Smith-Schuster regressing, the Chiefs have struggled to account for Rice’s absence this time around. Although KC could get an additional reinforcement in Week 3 if 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals (questionable/knee) is able to make his debut.

While Rapoport’s update is positive news for the Chiefs, it won’t help them against the New York Giants — or in any of the next three outings, for that matter.

That means Reid, Mahomes, and the rest of this Kansas City offense must find ways to generate points without their two top wide receivers.

The hope is that Worthy will return in Week 4. Until then, others must step up for KC.

The Chiefs’ vaunted offense of old has gone through growing pains in recent years, despite the team’s overall success. Perhaps opposing defenses have figured out the tactics of Reid and Mahomes.

Or maybe it’s been injuries and development issues within the offensive line and WR rooms that are to blame. Whatever the case may be, the Chiefs are staring the possibility of 0-3 in the face if they lose to the Giants, so they must do whatever it takes to stop that from happening.