Kansas City wide receiver Rashee Rice is not expected to play again this season because of a knee injury that will require an LCL repair, NFL Network reported.
Rice is scheduled for surgery Tuesday, and while LCL surgery will cause at least a three-month recovery time, it’s possible his ACL and other ligaments remain intact in his right knee, which will help reduce recovery time.
Rice was injured in the first quarter of the Chiefs’ 17-10 victory over the host Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 29 when he took an inadvertent hit from his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes threw an interception to Los Angeles cornerback Kristian Fulton, whose 29-yard return ended when Rice came up from behind him and poked the ball loose. Mahomes was simultaneously trying to make a tackle as Rice forced the fumble, and the signal-caller crashed into Rice’s right knee.
Rice, 24, was placed on injured reserve in the week leading up to Monday night’s home game against the New Orleans Saints. Kansas City (4-0) is approaching its bye week, followed by games at San Francisco on Oct. 20, at Las Vegas on Oct. 27 and at home against Tampa Bay on Nov. 4.
Rice is the Chiefs’ leading receiver in catches (24), targets (29), yards (288) and touchdowns (two, tied with Xavier Worthy).
A second-round selection by Kansas City in the 2023 NFL Draft out of SMU, Rice has hauled in 103 passes for 1,226 yards and nine TDs in 20 career regular-season games (12 starts).