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Chiefs WR Rashee Rice's Season Likely Over After Knee Surgery
Rashee Rice is unlikely to return this season.
The Kansas City Chiefs' leading receiver will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair the LCL in his right knee. While it's not certain yet, doctors do believe it's likely he is done for the year.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Rice did receive good news from doctors on Monday, that the damage to his knee wasn't as bad as feared. He may only need the LCL repaired. That means the recovery process should be much easier.
Sources: While #Chiefs star WR Rashee Rice’s season is expected to be over, he did receive positive news today from Dr. Dan Cooper.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2024
Rice needs his LCL repaired, but there is a chance that’s the only ligament to be repaired. He’s expected to make a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/x5m2ee1Xb6
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting doctors won't know the full extent of what they need to do until they perfom the surgery on Tuesday.
It’s unlikely that Chiefs WR Rashee Rice will play again this season, but doctors will not know for sure until they perform surgery Tuesday morning, per source. https://t.co/wjb1RiEdfd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2024
While it's good news that Rice's injury isn't a terrible as it looked at first, he isn't likely to be in uniform again this season and that poses serious problems for the Chiefs.
Kansas City was already missing Hollywood Brown for the season, and now this comes as a heavy blow. As a rookie in 2023, Rice caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 26 catches for 262 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs made a run to win the Super Bowl.
The 24-year-old opened the 2024 season looking like he had become a true No. 1 receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Through four games he had 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
In his absence, the Chiefs will lean heavily on Travis Kelce, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson and rookie Xavier Worthy. It would be huge for Kansas City if former second-round pick Skyy Moore could figure it out and contribute as well.
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Ryan Phillips is a senior writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has worked in digital media since 2009, spending eight years at The Big Lead before joining SI in 2024. Phillips also co-hosts The Assembly Call Podcast about Indiana Hoosiers basketball and previously worked at Bleacher Report. He is a proud San Diego native and a graduate of Indiana University’s journalism program.