With Chiefs WR Rashee Rice expected to miss time, it’s now becoming a question of how long.
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offense struggled last season, and the prolonged absence of wide receiver Rashee Rice was a major reason why. Unfortunately for the reigning AFC champions, something similar could be on the horizon.
On July 17, Rice was sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time stemming from a March 2024 multi-vehicle crash. The Chiefs’ top receiver is now “likely” to receive a suspension. As the offseason continues, how long would 2025’s missed time last?
Given that this is the NFL, it’s anyone’s guess. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk took a try, diving into the situation and what Rice could be looking at.
Florio predicts that Rice and the league will agree on a middle ground. That not-so-happy medium is almost half the season, though.
“Given that Rice seems to be willing (as he should be) to accept the consequences of his behavior, he should be willing to accept whatever suspension the league wants,” Florio said. “Our guess (and it’s just a guess) is that the league will propose 10, Rice will propose six, and they’ll settle on eight.”
Florio cited two other suspension models as things to consider. Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker settled with the NFL and got a 10-week suspension. Current Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson took his situation to a judge and wound up getting 11 games and a hefty fine. Rice, of course, is dealing with a different set of charges. That’s more context – and it is just that, context – than precedent.
Although Florio notes that it “easily could be argued” that the league could demand a full-season suspension, he isn’t banking on it. The outcome of Rice’s crash may play a role in that calculus.
“Maybe the league will take it more seriously, given the behavior at issue,” Florio said. “In situations like this, however, the punishment fits not the crime but the outcome of it. If someone had been killed by Rice’s street racing, he’d miss at least a season. (He’d also spend much more than 30 days in jail.) While injuries happened, no one died. And that will make it more likely that the league
