Rashee Rice injury update: Chiefs WR undergoes surgery, receives official diagnosis

Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) star wideout Rashee Rice underwent successful LCL surgery in his right knee Tuesday, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Rice will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. The 24-year-old also had a repair done to his hamstring tendon, however, there was no structural damage or tears to the ACL or meniscus. There are no long-term concerns as a result of the injury.

The Chiefs placed Rice on injured reserve last Thursday after he sustained the injury in the 17-10 Week 4 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2). Rice exited the game in the first quarter after quarterback Patrick Mahomes accidentally hit him low while attempting to make a tackle on cornerback Kristian Fulton, who had picked him off earlier in the play.

Kansas City initially feared the worst and even though they will be without him for the rest of the season, it’s overall positive news that Rice didn’t have more significant damage in his knee. Rice entered Week 4 leading the league in receptions with 24 and was second in yards with 288.

Chiefs continue winning ways without Rashee Rice

The Chiefs received contributions up and down their lineup in their first full game without Rice on Monday Night Football. In the 26-13 Week 5 victory over the New Orleans Saints (2-3), JuJu Smith-Schuster led the way with seven receptions for 130 yards. Tight end Travis Kelce chipped in with nine catches for 70 yards, while six other players recorded at least one catch.

Rice offered some optimism for the future in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance,” Rice wrote. “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Small thing to a GIANT.”