Chiefs WR Rashee Rice feared to have torn ACL, sources say

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Rashee Rice is feared to have suffered a torn ACL in his proper knee, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter, after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs huge receiver collided with quarterback Patrick Mahomes throughout Sunday’s 17-10 win in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned Rice would have an MRI on Monday.

“I am certain it isn’t pretty much as good of reports as we wish,” Reid mentioned after the Chiefs improved to 4-0.

Rice’s damage is the most recent to jolt the Chiefs and their hopes for a high-scoring offense. One other of their huge receivers, Hollywood Brown, suffered a sternoclavicular damage on the primary play of the preseason and can sit out most if not all of this season.

Working again Isiah Pacheco broke his leg in Week 2 and can also be on injured reserve, although he might return later within the season.

Editor’s Picks

2 Associated

Rice was making an attempt to get better a Chargers fumble throughout an interception return when the collision with Mahomes occurred. Each of Rice’s knees absorbed the influence, together with his proper knee showing to hyperextend. He was helped off the sector and examined by medical personnel earlier than being taken to the locker room on a cart.

Rice entered Week 4 main the league in catches with 24 and second in yards with 288.

In his absence, the Chiefs obtained massive contributions from tight finish Travis Kelce, operating again Kareem Hunt and huge receiver Xavier Worthy.

Kelce had his first massive sport of the season with seven catches for 89 yards, passing Tony Gonzalez to turn out to be the Chiefs’ all-time chief in receptions.

Hunt, in his first sport with the Chiefs six years after being lower, led the crew in speeding with 69 yards. Worthy caught a 54-yard move from Mahomes for Kansas Metropolis’s first landing.

“The fellows stepped up and stuffed in pretty much as good as they’ll the function that [Rice] has in our offense, which is a giant one,” Mahomes mentioned. “All we will do now’s return to the fundamentals and attempt to get guys alternatives to succeed.

“With Rashee going out early, you have to put Kelce again in that scenario the place he’s getting high-volume catches. Then simply with the Chargers taking away among the exterior stuff and leaving the center of the sector open and we have been in a position to get Trav in a few of these zone coverages.

“The entire Kelce factor generally hasn’t been a fear to me. I do know at any time when we want him he will make performs, and that is what he did in the present day.”

Hunt gave some life to the Chiefs’ operating sport after rookie starter Carson Steele misplaced a fumble for the second time in three video games. Reid mentioned Hunt acquired many of the work after the fumble as a result of he was the “sizzling hand,” however indicated he would not hesitate to make use of Steele in upcoming video games.

Mahomes mentioned Hunt regarded very like the participant who led the NFL in speeding in 2017.

“He is all the time been a man that runs powerful,” Mahomes mentioned. “He is onerous to sort out and you could possibly see that and he is going to ensure he finishes each single run and falls ahead.

“For somebody to return into an offense — I do know it is an offense he’d been in, however an offense he hadn’t performed in years — and to have the ability to run the soccer onerous, get properly earned yards, catch the ball out of the backfield, it was good to see. And I am simply glad [general manager Brett] Veach constructed an amazing operating again room that we will get guys to step up and make performs whereas Isiah’s not right here.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.