KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Friendly fire may cause Rashee Rice to miss significant time after he was clattered into by Patrick Mahomes.
Rice has been on a record-setting tear to the season, but the Kansas City Chiefs’ second-year wide receiver left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter with a right knee injury.
Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Chiefs coach Andy Reid if he could provide an update as he left the field at halftime, with Kansas City trailing 10-7.
"No, but it's not good," Reid said.
Rice is "feared to have suffered a torn ACL," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
“Rashee will have his knee checked out tomorrow with an MRI,” Reid said after the game. “It’s his knee. We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m sure it’s not as good of news as we want.”
If the MRI confirms a torn ACL, he'd be done for the season.
Rice's injury was the biggest development in a disastrous start to the game for the Chiefs, who rallied for a 17-10 win.
“The guys all hung together," Reid said. "They feel terrible for Rashee because he was having a fantastic year, and we’ll hope for the best on the report.”
Carson Steele fumbled on the opening possession and the Chargers marched to the end zone 10 plays later.
Mahomes then overthrew Travis Kelce deep down the left sideline for an interception by cornerback Kristian Fulton, who returned the ball 20 yards into Kansas City territory.
Rice actually forced a fumble, hustling to corral Fulton from behind.
But as he chopped the ball free, Mahomes dove to try and tackle Fulton and instead caught Rice, whose right foot had just planted in the SoFi Stadium turf, in the leg.
The collision bent Rice’s knee backward and he hobbled off the field.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice was carted off the field after this play: pic.twitter.com/3W2VZ46iPF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 29, 2024
“Rashee really made a good play,” Mahomes said. “I was trying to tackle the guy and obviously just rolled up on him.”
Mahomes took the blame on himself for throwing the interception in the first place and said he hopes Rice is able to return sooner rather than later.
"I didn't know exactly what happened, because obviously I was trying to make the tackle," Mahomes said. "But I know Rashee and how tough he is, so him being down like that — I knew it wasn't good."
After being checked by trainers, Rice was taken to a cart, laid on the back and was driven to the locker room with his hands on his head.
Initially, the Chiefs announced that Rice was questionable to return with a knee injury, but he was downgraded to out after getting X-rayed.
Rice set a franchise record with an AFC-best 24 catches in Kansas City’s first three games. His 288 yards ranked fourth in the NFL, including a league-best 186 yards after the catch.
Rice’s 15 first downs also ranked fourth in the NFL.
The Chiefs' defense only allowed two yards in the second quarter, and Mahomes connected with rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy on a 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter to keep the game close.
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