KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice remains behind bars in Texas, missing his team’s voluntary workout sessions as he serves a 30-day jail term for breaking his probation conditions related to a multi-vehicle accident that injured several people.
The 26-year-old player was taken into custody at the Dallas County jail on May 19 following a positive test for THC. His release is scheduled for June 16, meaning he’ll be absent for all voluntary team activities and the required three-day minicamp starting June 9.
Rice’s situation is complicated by knee surgery he underwent approximately one week prior to his sentencing. The procedure was performed to remove debris from his right knee that had been causing swelling. His incarceration has forced him to continue rehabilitation while in jail.
“We think he’ll be ready for camp as we go forward. We’ll just see how it goes,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday, following the team’s final voluntary workout of the week. “He knows the rehab he can do there, and I think they’re keeping an eye on him as far as any possible infection goes.”
Last season, Rice sat out the first six games due to a suspension for breaking the league’s personal conduct policy, which resulted from the initial 2024 highway accident in Dallas. It remains uncertain if additional penalties will follow for his probation violation.
“We’re moving forward as normal as we go here,” Reid said. “When he gets back, we’ve got to get him caught up in doing what he needs to do, and make sure he gets it. It’s not an easy thing he’s going through.
“Life lessons are important,” Reid added, “but we’re all given chances to learn, and he’s in that position now.”
This isn’t Rice’s first time facing such challenges. Before last season’s training camp, the former SMU standout claimed he had “completely changed” and matured following the car accident, stating that “you have to learn from things like that.”
“I’ve learned and taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that,” Rice said.
Kansas City is counting on Rice to play a crucial role in their offensive turnaround after posting a 6-11 record last season.
The Chiefs made minimal additions to their receiving corps during the offseason, instead banking on continued development from Rice — who enters his final rookie contract year — and younger talents like Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals.
When healthy and available, Rice has produced solid numbers, recording 156 receptions for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping Kansas City capture the Super Bowl during the 2023 campaign. However, suspensions and injuries have limited him to just 28 games across three seasons.
