Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice had an unexpected 30-day jail stint in the offseason due to a positive THC test while on felony probation stemming from a street racing incident in 2024. The timing, never truly ideal, became especially problematic because it kept Rice away from the team during the offseason program. He was initially unable to participate in rehab after recent knee surgery. (He was later granted permission to leave prison to receive the treatment he needed.) He spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since his imprisonment. “It was a learning experience and a reality check,” Rice said, via ESPN’s Nate Taylor. “Don’t focus on the past. Focus on what’s happening now. I’m doing [well] “It was mentally difficult. They gave me ways to communicate with my teammates still and also with my athletic trainer. Besides the difficult times there, I kept my mind straight by watching shows and as much Kevin Hart as I could to laugh at.” There’s nothing to laugh about now when it comes to Rice’s NFL career. It’s a crucial season, the last of his rookie contract. He will earn just $1.56 million, and the Chiefs have shown no inclination to sign him to a new contract. He’s off to a great start as a rookie in 2023. Appearing in 16 games with eight starts, and taking just 58 percent of the snaps in the games he played, Rice still generated 938 receiving yards. He learned the offense faster than Tyreek Hill. In the playoffs of Rice’s first year, everything was clicking. He had 262 receiving yards on 26 receptions in four postseason games. Then came the high-speed misadventures in Dallas. Then came the regular season, with a knee injury in Week 4 ending the rest of his second season. Last year he started with a six-game suspension. This year starts with a clean slate. Now he needs to show what he can do to get the contract he thought he would already have. There is no guarantee that you will get it. With the franchise tag for receivers well below the current market, the Chiefs may decide to use the device to keep him in place through 2027 before making a long-term commitment. I would give them two full years to see if he truly learned the lessons that come from his off-field misconduct.
