Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been handed a six-game ban due to a breach of the NFL’s personal conduct standards, which will commence at the season’s start.
The NFL disclosed on Wednesday that Rice can return to the Chiefs in Week 7, just before their match against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 19. Previously, a disciplinary hearing was set for September 30.
In July, Rice received a 30-day jail sentence along with five years of probation linked to his involvement in a multivehicle accident in Dallas that resulted in injuries to multiple individuals during the 2024 offseason.
The NFL imposed the suspension, which Rice will not contest, following its internal inquiry. This decision negates the previously scheduled hearing on September 30 before former federal Judge Sue L. Robinson at the NFL’s New York office.
At 25 years old, Rice admitted guilt to two felony charges in district court: a collision causing serious bodily harm and street racing that caused injury. He received a deferred judgment, with the understanding that the case will be dropped if he successfully completes his probation period.
Rice will miss the Chiefs’ season opener in Brazil against the Chargers on September 5 and a rematch against the Eagles on September 14 at Arrowhead Stadium; he will also be absent from a Sunday night game against the Giants in New York; a notable match against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on September 28; a Monday night game versus the Jaguars; and a Sunday night clash with the Lions.
During his rookie season in 2023, Rice achieved 79 receptions for 938 yards with seven touchdowns. Last year, his season was cut short in Week 4 due to a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. He managed to secure 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in those initial four games.
In an unusual move on Tuesday, the Chiefs retained eight receivers—Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Nikko Remigio, Jason Brownlee, and rookie Jalen Royals—on their initial 53-man roster. This action was taken in case Rice negotiates a reduced suspension with the league, divergent from the NFL’s initial proposal of at least an eight-game ban.
Rice has faced a precarious situation since he was reportedly driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119 mph along Dallas’ North Central Expressway, executing “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” before colliding with other vehicles, as stated by prosecutors. Following the incident, Rice did not check on the occupants of the other vehicles but instead fled on foot.
Last month, Rice expressed through a statement from his attorney that he has endured “many sleepless nights reflecting on the harm my actions caused, and I will persist in striving to ensure that everyone affected will be compensated.”
The DA’s office allowed Rice to have some flexibility with his jail time and he was also required to pay $115,000 for the victims’ medical expenses
