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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice said he wasn’t trying to taunt when he tossed a football off the head of Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin in last week’s win.

It appears the NFL agreed.

The league on Saturday announced fines for all Week 8 games, and Rice’s name was not on the list despite the taunting penalty he received for the play. The league reviews all fine-worthy plays during the week, apparently agreeing with Rice’s explanation of the play offered after the game.

Rashee Rice Drew Backlash for Play

Rice’s ball-toss came after he and Martin were seen jawing after a play, leading many observers to believe that his actions were intentional. But another angle of the play showed that an official was standing behind Martin with a hand extended in the air when Rice tossed the ball off of the Commanders defender’s helmet.

The Chiefs went on to win the game 28-7, moving to 5-3.

Rice was seen explaining the play to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid on the sidelines after the play, saying he was tossing the ball to the referee when it inadvertently hit Martin in the helmet. The Chiefs wide receiver later gave the same explanation to reporters.

“Yeah, yeah, I was trying to throw the ball to the ref,” Rice said, via AtoZ Sports. “He put his hands out for the ball. But you know, it’s OK. I mean, we won the game. Next play, and that’s all it could be.”

The league regularly issues fines for taunting, including incidents that were not flagged during the game, but did not issue any further punishments for Rice.

Rice had already been under scrutiny following the end of his six-game suspension after he pleaded guilty to felony charges related to a street racing incident that caused a serious accident last year. In an interview with The Associated Press as his suspension was coming to an end, Rice said his teammates helped him stay focused during his time away.

“I mean, the best thing for me is to be around the guys. I got leaders in each room, even on defense, that help me on and off the field,” Rice said. “That’s the best part about being on a team like this. You have everybody to support you.”

Rashee Rice Off to Hot Start

Rice has hit the ground running after the end of his suspension, which kept him off the field for an extended time after his season-ending injury early in the 2024 season. The Chiefs wide receiver has 16 receptions for 135 yards and three touchdowns through two games so far, seizing back his spot as the top wide receiver target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs may need another big performance out of Rice for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Though the Chiefs have beaten the Bills in the playoffs in four out of the last five seasons, they struggled against Buffalo in the regular season. The Bills have won each of the last four regular-season meetings between the teams, and get to host them in Orchard Park on Sunday afternoon.

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty

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