Patrick Mahomes collided with Rashee Rice, causing the injury
The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense suffered a huge blow on Sunday when Patrick Mahomes collided with Rashee Rice and the wide receiver was forced to leave the game.
Rice was diagnosed with a right knee injury with the team reportedly fearing he could have torn his ACL. He was on the receiving end from a Mahomes shoulder as he tried to tackle Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton following an interception.
“Obviously, the corner made a good play. I was trying to fire it to (Travis Kelce) on his body,” Mahomes said. “I overthrew him a little bit, turned the ball over, and then I thought Rashee really made a good play. I was trying to tackle the guy and obviously rolled up on him. If I just don’t turn the ball over, that never happens. So, you’ve just got to try to get better at that.
“I didn’t know exactly what happened because, obviously, I was trying to make a tackle, but I know Rashee and how tough he is. So him being down like that, I knew it wasn’t good. All we do is pray that the X-rays and MRIs and stuff like that are better than what it looked, but I mean next man up until he’s back.”
Rice gingerly walked back to the bench before he was taken off the field on a cart.
“I feel terrible for Rashee,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “…We will hope for the best.”
This would be a massive loss for the Chiefs, who are already without Hollywood Brown this season after he suffered a season-ending injury before even taking a snap with his new team.
Kansas City is also without star running back Isiah Pacheco for weeks after he suffered a fractured fibula against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Rice’s return to an NFL field is also murky because of off-the-field problems. He’s awaiting trial on several charges stemming from a high-speed car crash in March on a Texas expressway. Rice could be facing NFL discipline after the legal process.
Rice, who didn’t have a catch in this game, would finish the season with 288 yards on 24 receptions with two receiving touchdowns if he’s in fact finished for the season.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
