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The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly facing uncertainty regarding the severity of wide receiver Rashee Rice's knee injury. Rice, who suffered the injury during Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers, is undergoing further evaluation, and the Chiefs have yet to determine the full extent or recovery timeline.
As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, there were fears that Rice might have torn his right ACL, prompting the Chiefs to consult with team doctors and seek a second opinion. However, they still need additional tests before providing a definitive diagnosis, with answers expected sometime next week.
Rice sustained the injury after colliding with quarterback Patrick Mahomes while trying to recover a fumble during an interception return.
The impact involved both of Rice's knees, and his right knee appeared to hyperextend as a result. He was helped off the field, evaluated on the sideline by medical personnel, and then carted to the locker room. Due to the injury, Rice has been ruled out for next Monday night's matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
A key player for the Chiefs
At the time of his injury, Rice had been a key player for the Chiefs' offense, leading the league in receptions with 24 and ranking second in receiving yards with 288 through just four weeks of play. His absence poses a challenge for the team as they adjust their offensive game plan.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has announced that instead of relying solely on rookie Xavier Worthy to replace Rice's production, the team intends to distribute the ball across multiple receivers, aiming to keep their offense dynamic and balanced despite the setback.
"As far as Rashee's injury goes, we're still testing him on things here," Reid said. "So I don't have a definite for you right now, but we will get it to you. He's not going to be available, obviously, this week so we're going to make sure we get all of the tests that need to be done, done, and then we'll let you know on that.
"We have guys here that have experience of playing in a game, so I mean, it's not that he's the only one [and] doesn't have to be the only one. We've got a good group of guys there that we can utilize. We normally spread the ball around, and that's what we'll continue to strive to do."