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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver, Rashee Rice, with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons on September 22, 2024.
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to start the season without one of the most talented members of their offense after the NFL handed Rashee Rice a six-game suspension, but head coach Andy Reid is ready to move on.
Reid spoke to reporters on Friday, saying the team was prepared for the punishment that the league handed down for violating its personal conduct policy. Rice had pleaded guilty to two felony charges for his role in a multicar crash in Dallas that left multiple people injured. The incident took place during the 2024 offseason, but the Chiefs were prepared for Rice to face punishment from the league his role.
Reid said the team was ready to start the season without Rice and had four words for their approach.
“Try to move ahead,” he said.
Andy Reid Ready for Others to Step Up
Reid said the team prepared for Rice’s absence during training camp, giving other players opportunities in the offense while making sure the wide receiver got in as much work as possible while recovering from an injury.
“Everybody got a chance to play that will have an opportunity to play here,” Reid said, via USA Today’s Chiefs Wire. “I think it was good for Rashee (Rice) to get the practice in; he’ll be away for three weeks. Then he’ll be back in the building after that, to be able to work out here and just do everything but not practice, so, and then we’ll get him back in the – after six weeks. But we’ve got guys that are capable of playing here that we just have to go out and do it.”
Reid admitted that it would be difficult to start the first month and a half of the season without the team’s top wide receiver, but said they had talent throughout the depth chart.
“Not that you don’t miss, Rashee,” he said. “I mean, he’s a heck of a football player, but we have, we have other guys that are good players, too.”
Rice had a big impact in a limited time last season. He appeared in four games, making 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs have some challenging games during Rice’s absence, including a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles and games against two othe rSuper Bowl contenders in the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions.
Rashee Rice: ‘I’ve Completely Changed’
Rice has accepted responsibility for the racing incident, telling reporters earlier in August that he appreciates how the organization has stood behind him.
“All I can do is focus on what I can control right now, and that’s me doing what I do best right here on the field,” Rice said, via ESPN. “I learned just how valuable any opportunity and moment is. This right here, us being able to be on the field and be coached by Coach [Andy] Reid and have such a great quarterback, is honestly a gift, a blessing.
“I’ve completely changed. Honestly, you have to learn from things like that. I’ve taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that.”
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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