Kansas City Chiefs‘ preparations for the 2025/26 NFL season face uncertainty due to star wide receiver Rashee Rice missing practice amid concerns over a potential suspension. The situation stems from his recent guilty plea related to a high-speed, multi-vehicle crash in Dallas during 2024.
Rice, who has been an important contributor to the Chiefs since their Super Bowl LVIII win in 2023/24, remains sidelined, putting his involvement in the early games in doubt. His decision to skip the August 6 practice has fueled anxiety about how the team will maintain its offensive strength without him.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is in the training tent and won’t be practicing Wednesday. Have yet to see Hollywood Brown (ankle) yet,
Matt Derrick reported on X.com.
Legal Troubles Cast a Shadow over Rice’s Role
Rice is currently awaiting disciplinary action from the NFL after pleading guilty to felony charges related to a crash involving serious bodily injury and reckless racing on a highway. He received a 30-day jail sentence and five years of probation, but the league has not yet announced an official suspension. Industry reports suggest he could miss five to seven games, which would severely impact a Chiefs offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Complicating matters further, another key wide receiver, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, remains sidelined as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained during training camp. This diminishes the options available to the Chiefs’ receiving unit early in the season.
Rookie Jalen Royals Emerges as a Potential Solution
Despite these challenges, the Chiefs have a promising rookie in Jalen Royals, a fourth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft. Royals impressed during his college career with 1,080 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2023/24 season, maintaining strong performance even during an injury-shortened 2024 season with 834 yards and six touchdowns in seven games.
His NFL Combine stats further highlight his upside, including a 4.32-second 40-yard dash and an 82 Next Gen score—ranking sixth among wide receivers. Royals’ speed and playmaking ability have drawn favorable comparisons within the Chiefs organization.
His game is very similar to Rashee’s…,
Ryne Nutt, the Chiefs‘ director of player personnel, told reporters.
(Run after the catch) is a big part of our offense. That’s something we look for in receivers. We look for speed… We look for strength, and he has that. So we kind of thought they were similar in that respect.
Chiefs Face Crucial Preseason and Regular Season Games
The Chiefs will test their depth soon as they open the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals on August 9 at State Farm Stadium. This will be followed by games against the Seattle Seahawks on August 15 and the Chicago Bears on August 22. Their regular season begins with a Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 5.
How the team manages wide receiver availability, particularly with Rashee Rice’s uncertain suspension status and ongoing injuries within the unit, will be critical to maintaining their Super Bowl contender status. Royals’ development could become a decisive factor in the Chiefs’ offensive success this year.