Wide receiver issues plagued the Chiefs for most of the 2023 NFL season, but did not prevent them from winning their second consecutive Super Bowl.
Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes used his skills to get the most out of his teammates, and rising rookie Rashee Rice was one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Rice became one of Mahomes’ favorite targets, posting 938 yards on 79 passes caught and seven touchdowns. He maintained that performance in the postseason, posting 262 yards on 26 passes caught and one touchdown.
But the 2023 second-round pick had a controversial offseason following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl title. He was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Dallas and faces eight felony charges in an open case.
How will this affect Rice’s availability for Week 1 and the rest of the 2024 season? The Sporting News has summarized the latest updates for you below.
PREDICTIONS: 2024 NFL season | Why the Cowboys will miss the playoffs | Why the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl
Will Rashee Rice play against the Ravens today?
Rice will play in the Chiefs’ Week 1 game against the Ravens on Thursday.
The 24-year-old faces a driving ban at some point for hit-and-run, but the exact date has not yet been determined.
“We do not anticipate that he will be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list unless there is a significant change in the case,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told reporters on August 29 about Rice’s possible suspension.
In April, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that there was no guarantee Rice would be suspended in 2024. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said at the start of training camp that he had not heard from the league.
Until there is another update, Rice is expected to resume his role as the Chiefs’ No. 1 wide receiver alongside the injured Hollywood Brown and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy. With Brown out for Week 1, Rice’s workload could be even heavier than usual.
WEEK 1 NFL: Power Rankings | ATS Picks | SU Picks
Chiefs 2024 schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV | Tickets |
| 1 | 5 Sept. (Thurs.) | against Ravens | 20:20 | NBC | Buy now |
| 2 | 15 September | at Bengals | 16:25 | CBS | Buy now |
| 3 | 22 September | at Falcons | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | Buy now |
| 4 | 29 September | at Chargers | 16:25 | CBS | Buy now |
| 5 | 7 Oct (Mon.) | against the saints | 20:15 | ESPN | Buy now |
| 6 | BYE | ||||
| 7 | 20 October | at the 49ers | 16:25 | fox | Buy now |
| 8 | 27 October | at Raiders | 16:25 | CBS | Buy now |
| 9 | 4 November (Mon.) | against Buccaneers | 20:15 | ESPN | Buy now |
| 10 | 10 November | against the Broncos | 1pm | CBS | Buy now |
| 11 | 17 November | at Bills | 16:25 | CBS | Buy now |
| 12 | 24 November | at Panthers | 1pm | CBS | Buy now |
| 13 | 29 November (Fri.) | against Raiders | 3 p.m | Amazon Prime | Buy now |
| 14 | December 8 | vs. Chargers | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | Buy now |
| 15 | 15 December | at Browns | 1pm | CBS | Buy now |
| 16 | 21 December (Sat.) | against Texans | 1pm | NBC | Buy now |
| 17 | 25 December (Wed) | at Steelers | 1pm | Netflix | Buy now |
| 18 | To be announced | at Broncos | To be announced | To be announced | Buy now |
