Kansas City Chiefs players reported to training camp Monday, including third-year wide receiver Rashee Rice, despite his jail sentence and a possible NFL suspension looming.
Last week, Rice, 25, was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days of jail time by a Dallas County judge, per the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Rice pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges related to his role in a multi-car crash that injured multiple people on a Dallas highway last year.
“We’re going to progress as normal with him,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Sunday. “He’ll go in and take all the reps that he’d normally take. We always rotate that position. So depending on what happens here in the future, whoever needs to play will be able step in, and they’ll know what they are doing and be in good shape to do it.”
While a suspension is widely expected, Reid said Sunday he didn’t know when the NFL would decide on a potential punishment for Rice.
Because the plea deal Rice took includes deferred probation, his case will be dismissed if he successfully completes probation. His 30 days of jail time can be served at any point of his five years on probation, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week.
Rice was ruled to pay medical expenses totaling $115,481.91 for all the victims involved in the chain-reaction car crash he and then-SMU cornerback Teddy Knox caused by speeding during rush hour traffic on March 30, 2024. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Knox was traveling 116 mph and Rice was going 119 in a Lamborghini Urus SUV prior to first impact and made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” per the DA’s office. Officials also said Rice didn’t check on the people in the cars affected by the collision and then fled on foot.
Rice’s lawyer, Royce West, released a statement on Rice’s behalf last week in the media release from the DA’s office.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas. There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart,” Rice said in the statement. “Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”
After catching 24 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns in four games to start the 2024 season, Rice went on injured reserve in early October. Then he had season-ending LCL surgery.
The former second-round draft pick’s sophomore season was cut short, following an impressive rookie campaign that saw the SMU product reel in 79 passes for 938 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Reid said Sunday that he and his staff will keep an eye on Rice’s knee in training camp.
Rice participated in Chiefs’ voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
