On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs placed inured wide receiver Rashee Rice on injured reserve. That means this stint will be at least four weeks before he could return to the Chiefs lineup. However, that might be optimistic, considering his injury on Sunday.
At first glance, the knee injury to Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Rashee Rice appeared to be a season-ender. Multiple outlets reported it was a torn ACL. However, after a pair of MRIs on Monday, the severity of the injury remains in doubt.
Earlier today, Rice was seen walking in the Chief’s locker room with a sleeve on his leg, but he did not appear limping moving amongst his teammates. Regardless, the team placed him on injured reserve, meaning he’ll be out for at least four weeks. One of those weeks will be occupied by the bye week.
Rice is expected to head to Dallas next week to undergo another round of tests to determine if the injury will heal with rest or if surgery is required. Head Coach Andy Reid said he was hopeful that there was a chance he could return; the swelling in his knee has not subsided enough to get an accurate evaluation.
The Chiefs play the Saints on Monday Night, and Rice’s placement on injured reserve could mean they elevate one or two wide receivers for this game. Currently, they have 51 players on the active roster. The likely choices to be elevated are Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio. The Chiefs might need both because Mecole Hardman is dealing with a knee injury and was limited in practice on Thursday.
Of the two, Remigio is the better fit for the offense. However, the Chiefs could also promote Tight End Jody Forston, who is basically a tall receiver. He’s succeeded in the offense and could take over some of the routes Rice executed flawlessly through three games.
Either way, the Rice situation can be seen as half full or half empty. It just depends on your optimism or pessimism. Rice can return this season.
At the core of the debate, it does sound like there was no tear in the ACL, and based solely on how his knee bent back, it’s likely he has a strain in the MCL or PCL. So, can he recover and play this season?
The tests next week are designed to see if he has any micro-fractures in his ligaments. If they do not require surgery, he’ll be back at some point this season. If surgery is recommended, then it’s done. Now, they could scope the knee with a camera to get a better view, which should not affect the healing time.
I do think this team can sustain its winning ways without Rice, but someone has to step up and take some of his catches. If that happens, it’s possible they will come back from the bye week with a clear understanding of when Rice can get back on the field.
In other Chiefs news, running back Kareem Hunt was on the injured list today. The probable starter on Monday Night was listed as a limited participant with a shoulder injury.
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