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KANSAS City was handed an injury boost after seeing the results of Rashee Rice’s scan.
But the sophomore wide receiver is still expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.
Rice, 24, traveled to Dallas, Texas this week to see a specialist surgeon.
He was carried off the field on a medical cart after sustaining a knee injury in the Week 4 win at the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rice was initially feared to have torn his ACL, which would’ve left him facing a grueling nine-month recovery.
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Chiefs have “a lot of optimism” Rice’s injury isn’t as bad as first thought.
Rice suffered damage to his LCL ligament, the ESPN NFL insider added.
Doctors will perform surgery on Tuesday which is expected to rule Rice out for the remainder of the season.
And his timeline for return will be “much shorter” than if he tore his ACL.
The Chiefs won their fifth straight game to start the 2024 season with a 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Rookie Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster took on elevated roles in the offense.
Patrick Mahomes was already missing free agency signing Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown.
Tight end Travis Kelce is beginning to rediscover his best form after a slow start to the 2024 campaign.
Kansas City has made a big decision on how to address their wide receiver problems.
The Chiefs are looking to become the first team in history to win three straight Super Bowls.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said on Sunday that the Chiefs are “eyeing potential wide receiver trades.”
Chiefs injury crisis
Patrick Mahomes lost another offensive weapon to injury in the Week 4 win in Los Angeles
The Chiefs saw wide receiver Rashee Rice taken off on the back of a medical cart at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Kansas City was already without free agency signing wide receiver Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and starting running back Isiah Pacheco (fractured fibula).
Both are set to miss large parts of the 2024 NFL season.
Speaking after Sunday’s win over the LA Chargers sent them to 4-0, Mahomes said, “All we can do now is go back to the basics and try to get guys opportunities to succeed.
“The guys stepped up and filled in as good as they can the role that Rice has in our offense, which is a big one.”
Rapoport added that the Chiefs’ willingness to trade isn’t solely down to Rice’s availability.
Rice was injured on a play when he collided with Mahomes after they both tried to stop an interception from becoming a pick-six.
Mahomes was remorseful after being involved in the injury in Week 4’s win at the Chargers.
“Rashee really made a good play,” he said after the 17-10 win at the Chargers.
“I was trying to tackle the guy and obviously rolled up on him.
“If I just don’t turn the ball over that never happens.”
Rice had 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games this season.