Rashee Rice pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges on July 17. The plea came after the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver caused a crash that involved serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury on March 30, 2024.
Rice was sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time that can be served during his probation period.
With his court case handled, it seemed like an NFL suspension would come swiftly. That was not the case, however, and on Thursday, it was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that a disciplinary hearing won’t take place until Tuesday, September 30.
“Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Tuesday, Sept 30 in New York,” Schefter wrote on X. “This means that Rice now is likely to be able to play the first four weeks of this season before any potential discipline is imposed for his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas during the 2024 offseason.”
In holding off on a meeting with Rice until September 30, the receiver will be eligible to play in the Chiefs’ toughest four-game stretch of the season. Kansas City will play the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens to kick off the year.
While the NFL’s delay in meeting with Rice is baffling to say the least, the Buffalo Bills could ultimately benefit from the delay. If Rice is handed a 6-8 game suspension, he would not be eligible to suit up for the Chiefs’ regular season matchup against the Bills on Sunday, November 2.
Rice caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2023. Last season, Rice got off to a hot start, catching 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ first three games. Rice suffered a knee injury that ended his season in the Chiefs’ fourth game when quarterback Patrick Mahomes collided with him.
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