Chiefs' Rashee Rice Cleared to Return From Hamstring Injury vs. Broncos
Kansas City's top receiver has no injury designation for Sunday in Denver after missing two games, a boost for an offense that stalled without him
Rashee Rice is back. The Chiefs' top receiver has no injury designation for Sunday's game against the Broncos in Denver and is expected to play after missing two games with a strained right hamstring.
Rice was hurt in Week 4 against the Raiders and sat out the following two games, including last Sunday's game in Seattle. He practiced all three days this week, listed as limited Wednesday with hamstring and knee designations, and Friday's report cleared him.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has no injury designation status for Sunday and is expected to play Sunday vs. the Broncos.View on X →
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has no injury designation status for Sunday and is expected to play Sunday vs. the Broncos.
Kansas City felt his absence. Patrick Mahomes didn't throw a touchdown pass in either game without Rice, and the Chiefs' receivers combined for six catches and 39 yards in the 20-3 loss to the Seahawks, the team's first defeat of the season. In four games, Rice has 13 catches on 16 targets for 190 yards and a touchdown.
"Having him back out there will be big for us because it'll help take some pressure off the other guys to make plays and let them go out there and be themselves," Mahomes said Wednesday, via ESPN's Nate Taylor.
His return reshuffles a group that has leaned on Xavier Worthy, rookie Cyrus Allen, Justin Watson, Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals. The timing matters, too. The 5-1 Chiefs visit a 5-2 Denver team in an AFC West game, a rematch of Kansas City's season-opening win. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET.
The Chiefs may be without rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane, their top draft pick, who is questionable with a right shoulder injury after missing practice Thursday and Friday.