Sep 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Kansas City Chiefs watched wide receiver Rashee Rice struggle to get himself to the sideline after making a first-quarter catch against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. It was immediately clear that something was wrong with his leg.
From there, the Chiefs completed a touchdown drive—thanks to a deep pass to Xavier Worthy and a Tyquan Thornton TD catch—without Rice as he was eventually designated as questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
Rice remained on the sideline with his helmet on, which made it seem like a short-term issue, but reporter Tracy Wolfson noted he was then frustratedly taken back to the locker room.
Without Rice available, the Chiefs will turn to Jalen Royals,, who was the team's fourth-round pick from the 2025 draft. Rice profiles as the same type of big slot receiver as Rice and should be in line for a much greater volume of targets than the three total through 3 games he's seen so far in 2026.