It's been a long time coming, but clarity has finally found Rashee Rice when it comes to the extent of his knee injury and the resulting timetable for his return.
On Tuesday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz posted that Rice had undergone successful surgery to repair his LCL that was injured in Week 4 in a win over the L.A. Chargers. Per Schultz, Rice is expected to miss the rest of his sophomore season in the NFL, but the good news is that he should make a full recovery.
The verdict had been out on Rice for more than a week after suffering the injury, which came on an accidental play in which Patrick Mahomes attempted to tackle Chargers defensive back Kristian Fulton, who was running back an interception. Mahomes fell on Rice awkwardly and Rice was immediately taken out of the game..
For the last 9 days, Rice's status has been a source of confusion as the Chiefs have feared the worst and hoped for the best. Various reports had him coming back this season and/or possibly facing extensive damage to multiple ligaments, but nothing could be said with any certainty due to sustained swelling of the knee.
The Chiefs have now lost Rice and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown for the full season, which at least gives the front office a chance to approach the looming NFL trade deadline with the knowledge they need to make an acquisition (or not). With Rice's potential return in the air for a while, it was impossible for GM Brett Veach to accurately assess the position for both short- and long-term needs.
Rice came into the season as a promising second-year receiver and delivered an instant message in Week 1 that he was ready for far more. Through the first three games, that message was cemented further in a clear transition of power that saw him emerge as the Chiefs' primary weapon in the passing game. The evidence was 24 catches for 288 yards and 2 scores in the first three games.
The Chiefs first selected Rice in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a prospect out of SMU. He came on strong in the second half of the season and nearly broke the Chiefs rookie record for most receiving yards by a first-year wideout with 938 yards. He also added 7 touchdowns.