Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has admitted he is starting training camp completely in the dark over the status of wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Last week, Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail for causing a chain-reaction crash that left multiple people injured on a Dallas highway last year. Rice was filmed fleeing the scene after the smash on March 30, 2024.
While Rice has freedom on when he serves time, the ruling from authorities also clears the way for the NFL to ban him before the start of the 2025 season. But as it stands, Reid doesn’t know for certain if Rice will be suspended, even though it is anticipated.
He said he is doing his best to make it business as usual as his team reports for camp on Monday. Reid also has to consider that Rice is returning from an ACL tear that curtailed his season in the early stages last year.
‘We’re going to progress as normal with him,’ Reid said on Sunday night. ‘He’ll go in and take all the reps that he’ll normally take.
‘We always rotate that position. Depending on what happens here with the future – whoever needs to play will step in and know what they are doing and be in good shape to do it.’
Andy Reid says it will be business as usual for Rashee Rice at Kansas City Chiefs camp
Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail last week for his part in a Dallas car crash in 2024
Dashcam footage of the accident shows when the Super Bowl winner crashed last March
Rice was accidentally injured by his own quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, in Week 4 of the 2024 campaign. Mahomes threw an interception against the Los Angeles Chargers and then collided with Rice when he tried to tackle Kristian Fulton – who, ironically, is now his teammate after signing for the Chiefs in the offseason.
‘We’ll keep an eye on that,’ Reid added on Rice’s knee injury. ‘As far as pulling back because of suspensions or whatever, you know, we’re going forward. And then we’ll monitor him as far as (the injury) goes.’
The NFL said after Rice’s jail ruling that ‘we have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review.’
Chiefs camp begins with testing and meetings on Tuesday, followed by the first full-squad workout on Wednesday, when temperatures are expected to hit triple digits.
Rice pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. As part of a plea agreement Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation and 30 days in jail as a condition of his probation.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office said that the 25-year-old Rice also was required to pay the victims for their out-of-pocket medical expenses, which totaled about $115,000.
Rice was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119 mph (191 kph) when he made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and struck other vehicles, prosecutors said. After the crash on North Central Expressway, prosecutors said, Rice failed to check on the welfare of those in the other vehicles and fled on foot.
Rice said in a statement issued by his attorney that he´s had ‘a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole.’
Rice is also returning from a torn ACL, sustained in Week 4 of the 2024 Chiefs campaign
His return is considered key as the Chiefs try to avenge their February Super Bowl loss
His return to the field for the Chiefs, whenever it comes, is considered key as Reid and his men try and avenge their crushing Super Bowl loss back in February.
Standing on the brink of an historic three-peat, the Chiefs were blown away by the Philadelphia Eagles, losing 40-22 on the night in New Orleans.
The Chiefs open the season against the Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 5 before a rematch against the Eagles in Week 2.
There was some good news for Reid on Sunday, however. George Karlaftis agreed four-year, $93million extension with the Chiefs.
