The Kansas City Chiefs lost one of their most important weapons last season on a fluke play.
Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice was rolled up on ... by his own quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, during a Week 4 game, tearing his ACL.
But now?
Mahomes worked out with Rice before OTAs, and is working with him now ... and ready to issue a notable look forward and look back.
"Obviously having the injury, it sucked," Mahomes said of Rice.
But ...
"Happening so early in the season, he was back like right when the offseason started and so he was up here working hard,'' Mahomes said. "I was throwing with him in Dallas a little bit and then getting him back out here, there’s no limitations. He’s out there playing, he’s making plays on the football field, he’s explosive, he looks fast.''
And the prognosis going forward?
"I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league,'' Mahomes said of Rice.
If things progress smoothly here, there is no reason Rice won't be ramped up during training camp and and then be ready to return at full strength by Week 1. ... unless legal issues get in the way. (See below.)
The Kansas City offense clearly struggled after Rice's injury, and so did Mahomes' passing stats. ... as at the time of the injury, Rice was leading the NFL with 24 receptions and he ranked second in the NFL with 288 receiving yards.
The Week 1 road matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 5 should feature an assortment of other Mahomes weapons. But Mahomes' words speak volumes about Rice's past ... and his future.