As expected, the Kansas City Chiefs will have to get by without their primary pass-catcher for the beginning of the season.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, Rashee Rice has accepted a six-game suspension, meaning he'll be eligible to make his season debut on Oct. 19 in the divisional clash against the Las Vegas Raiders.
This suspension comes after his involvement in a multi-car crash in the 2024 offseason. With that in mind, the Chiefs might want to turn to a familiar face to hold down the fort in the star wide receivers' absence.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has accepted a six-game suspension that will start in Week 1, per source.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 27, 2025
Rice will be eligible to return Oct. 19 against the Raiders. pic.twitter.com/HTEcjA8cCj
Chiefs Could Bring Back Mecole Hardman After Rashee Rice Suspension News
Former Chiefs second-round pick Mecole Hardman failed to make the Green Bay Packers' 53-man roster. Technically, that leaves the door wide open for him to make his way back to Arrowhead Stadium for the third time in his career.
Granted, injuries have taken a big toll on his ability to make an impact, and he wasn't much of a factor in little over a season after his trade from the New York Jets. His role was limited, combining for 26 receptions for 208 yards and no touchdowns. He also missed time with thumb and knee injuries.
Nevertheless, there aren't many options available at this point in the offseason, and his familiarity with Andy Reid's offense would help him get up to speed right away.
Also, the Chiefs should be more than set at wide receiver with Xavier Worthy, Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown, Jalen Royal, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, so it's not like they would need Hardman to embrace a big role with them.
He'd be just an insurance policy and depth piece on a cheap contract while Rice gets cleared to return. Hardman would also give the Chiefs another option on special teams to alternate with Nikko Remigio.
The situation is far from ideal, and the upside might be minimal, but a reunion with Hardman makes sense as a seamless fit for an offense that will look to get back to its dominant ways from the earlier days of the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Chiefs got by without Rice for most of last season, and having him back on the field for the most crucial stretch of the campaign is a big win. Brett