Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is
suspended 6 games by NFL, beginning with opener next week in Brazil
[August 28, 2025]
By DAVE SKRETTA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been
suspended six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy,
keeping him out of a series of high-profile games starting with next
week’s season opener against the Chargers in Brazil.
Rice pleaded guilty about six weeks ago to two third-degree felony
charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a
highway causing bodily injury. As part of his plea agreement from
the March 2024 crash on a Dallas highway, prosecutors said, Rice
also received a sentence of five years of deferred probation and 30
days in jail as a condition of his probation.
The NFL handed down its suspension, which Rice will not appeal,
after its own internal investigation. It voids a Sept. 30 hearing
before former federal Judge Sue L. Robinson that was scheduled for
the NFL’s headquarters in New York.
Along with missing the Chargers game, Rice will miss a Super Bowl
rematch with the Eagles on Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium; a Sunday
night trip to New York to face the Giants; a high-profile matchup
with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Sept. 28; a game against
Jacksonville the following Monday night; and a Sunday night showdown
with the Lions.
Rice will be eligible to return to the field when Kansas City faces
the AFC West rival Raiders on Oct. 19.
The Chiefs did not make Rice nor coach Andy Reid available
Wednesday. Rice also was not at their final practice before Sunday,
when the Chiefs go into their game-week schedule to prepare for the
Friday night matchup with the Chargers.
“We're just going to go out there, trust what the coaches put on our
plates, whatever game plan we have regardless of who is in there,”
tight end Noah Gray said Wednesday. “I'm extremely confident in all
the guys.”
Rice’s status has been in limbo ever since he was driving a
Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119 mph (191 kph) on the North Central
Expressway, made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and
struck other vehicles, prosecutors said. After the crash, Rice did
not check on the welfare of those in the other vehicles but instead
fled on foot.
Rice said in a statement issued by his attorney that he’s had “a lot
of sleepless nights thinking about the damages my actions caused,
and I will continue working within my means to make sure that
everyone impacted will be made whole.”
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office said the 25-year-old
Rice will have some flexibility in when he must serve his jail time.
He also was required to pay the victims for their out-of-pocket
medical expenses, which totaled about $115,000.
[to top of second column] |
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) reacts during warm
ups before an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle
Seahawks, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey
Wasson)
“I’ve completely changed. You have to learn from
things like that,” Rice said during a brief media availability in
training camp. “All I can focus on is what I can control right now
and that’s me doing what I do.”
After a breakout rookie season, Rice was on his way
to a memorable follow-up last fall, catching 24 passes for 288 yards
and two touchdowns in his first three games. But in Week 4, after
Patrick Mahomes had thrown an interception, the QB accidentally
dived into Rice’s leg as they were trying to make a tackle, tearing
the lateral collateral ligament in his knee.
Rice wound up missing the rest of the season, including a loss to
Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.
He spent the offseason rehabbing the knee, and Rice was ready to
participate in the Chiefs’ offseason program. But under terms of the
suspension, Rice now will be barred from the practice facility until
the middle of next month.
The Chiefs undoubtedly believed a suspension was coming. They kept
eight wide receivers on Tuesday, when NFL roster cuts were due. That
group includes rookie Jalen Royals, who has been dealing with an
injury and may not be available for the season opener in Brazil, and
Marquise Brown, who missed most of last season with a shoulder
injury.
Now, the Chiefs will be relying on Brown and second-year pro Xavier
Worthy alongside tight end Travis Kelce in their passing game. The
other wide receivers on the initial roster are veteran JuJu
Smith-Schuster, return specialist Nikko Remigio, preseason standout
Tyquan Thornton and Jason Brownlee, who spent part of last season
with the Jets.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Florida, contributed to
this report.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
