While the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for the NFL Draft beginning on Thursday, some fans are understandably curious about the health of star wide receiver Rashee Rice.
After a breakout first three games of 2024, Rice unfortunately suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of Week 4, derailing the Chiefs' offense for the rest of the campaign. It sounds like the organization expects Rice to be healthy for the start of the 2025 season.
In new comments from three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, it sure appears that Rice will be ready to go for summer workouts and beyond.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says WR Rashee Rice is running routes and catching the football well right now: "I don't know what he'll be able to do when he gets back to OTAs, but he's able to do everything here (in Texas)."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) April 23, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Gives Big Rashee Rice Injury Update Ahead of NFL Draft
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Mahomes was asked about Rice's progress during the quarterback's famous training sessions he hosts in Texas.
"I don't know what he'll be able to do when he gets back to OTAs," Mahomes said. "But he's able to do everything here (in Texas)."
That's an encouraging sign for the 25-year-old wideout who figures to be the focal point of Kansas City's passing attack. In just three games, Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two TDs, looking like a potential All-Pro candidate thanks in large part to his dynamic ability to break tackles after the catch. The 2023 second-round pick burst onto the scene late in his rookie campaign and is the heir apparent to Travis Kelce in this offense, though he has to be healthy in order to deliver on his immense promise.
Surrounded by speedsters like Xavier Worthy and Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown, Rice's physicality adds a unique wrinkle to the team that can terrorize defenses. Depending on what Kansas City does in the draft, this offense could once again become one of the best in the NFL in 2025, should Rice remain healthy.
Of course, he has a potential suspension looming, though the league hasn't commented or made any progress on a theoretical punishment. Thus, fans are best left waiting to see where the dominos fall. If Rice is suspended, it's highly unlikely it'll be for the postseason, which is when things truly start for the Chiefs anyway.
Should Mahomes' comments foresee the future and Rice can indeed do everything that'll be required, this offense is going to be dangerous and may even rank in the top five of the league. With Steve Spagnuolo's defense at full strength, that'll make the Chiefs a Super Bowl contender once again.