Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice was forced to sit on the sidelines after Week 4 with a knee injury, ending his season just as he was beginning to hit his stride.
Watching his teammates win 15 regular-season games was tough, but what was even tougher was seeing his older teammates and knowing he might not get the chance to play with them again.
One was tight end Travis Kelce.
The aging tight end was thought to be playing his last season, but the Super Bowl loss means the future Hall of Famer is coming back for a 13th year.
Much to the delight of Rice.
"I was real concerned," Rice said via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. "I ain't gonna lie. That's Trav. Me getting hurt last year was like kind of a wake-up call. I really wanted him to come back. [You] kind of realize the guys that you get to play with once it's all over."
Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce.
© Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Rice wasn't the only one concerned; many thought that after the Super Bowl loss, it would be the last time they saw 87 running around.
But after a down season that was his worst since being drafted, coupled with how he and the team played against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 40-22 beatdown, Kelce couldn't leave things like that.
And he announced his return.
So now Rice has the chance to play with Travis one more time, and if the football gods don't intervene, it might be quite the year for the Chiefs, who will want revenge for the Super Bowl loss.
Rashee was concerned, and so were we, but thankfully, we get to see No. 87 on the field in 2025.