The Kansas City Chiefs secured a hard-fought victory over their rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, in Week 4, but the win came with a significant downside as star wide receiver Rashee Rice suffered a troubling injury.
In the first quarter, quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an ill-advised pass intended for tight end Travis Kelce, which was intercepted. As the interception was being returned by Kristian Fulton—amid some confusion about a potential fumble—Mahomes inadvertently rolled into Rice, putting the receiver’s leg in a precarious position and forcing him to leave the game.
Mahomes injures Rashee Rice on this interception… #KCvsLAC pic.twitter.com/3rIf4KMGtx
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 29, 2024
Rice was later ruled out with a knee injury, and reports suggest there may be concern over a possible ACL tear. Head coach Andy Reid expressed little optimism regarding Rice’s condition during his post-game comments.
After the Chiefs’ 17-10 win, Mahomes recounted the play that led to the injury.
“The corner made a good play,” Mahomes explained. “I was trying to fire it to Trav, but I overthrew him a bit, leading to the turnover. I thought Rashee did a good job, and I was just trying to make the tackle when I rolled up on him. If I hadn’t turned the ball over, none of this would have happened. I’ve got to do better at that.”
Mahomes also conveyed his hopes for Rice’s recovery, noting the impact the young receiver has had on the team’s offense this season.
“I didn’t see exactly what happened because I was focused on the tackle,” Mahomes said. “But knowing Rashee and how tough he is, I realized it wasn’t good when he went down. All we can do is hope the X-rays and MRIs show better news than what it looked like. It’s next man up until he returns.”
Before his exit, Rice hadn’t recorded a catch or target, but he had been a standout performer in the first three weeks of the season, amassing 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. His absence would create a significant void in the Chiefs’ offense, which relied on Kelce and rookie receiver Xavier Worthy to step up in the wake of Rice’s injury during this game.
If Rice ends up missing an extended period, the Chiefs may find themselves in a similar situation to last season, relying on veteran Justin Watson and the unpredictable JuJu Smith-Schuster, along with a limited pool of high-caliber talent elsewhere. While Worthy has the potential to fill the role, he does not possess the same skill set Rice brought to the field.
Despite a rocky start to the game, Mahomes emphasized the need for the team to regroup while they await updates on Rice’s status.
“I think the key is to get everyone settled down, including myself,” Mahomes said. “We were trying to do too much at the beginning, which led to the fumble and interception. I felt like guys stepped up as best they could to fill Rashee’s role, which is crucial in our offense. Moving forward, we need to focus on the basics and create opportunities for success. Travis did a great job stepping up and making plays, as he always does. At the end of the day, getting the win is what truly matters.”
