Nolan Bianchi asks offensive coordinator John Morton about ‘the dialogue with the quarterback’.
Nolan Bianchi asks offensive coordinator John Morton about ‘the dialogue with the quarterback’.
Kansas City, Mo. – Rashee Rice knows almost to the day how long it’s been since he played in a game for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Two more days until he does it again.
Their top wide receiver has missed the first six this season while serving an NFL suspension for violating its personal-conduct policy, the punishment handed down for his role in a high-speed car crash in Dallas in March 2024. And he missed most of last season after tearing his ACL in Week 4, when Patrick Mahomes collided with him following an interception.
“I’ve been looking forward to this, I think it’s been 380-something days since I have played in a regular-season game,” Rice said Friday, following a final practice for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I mean, it’s been a long time coming,” he said. “The time is finally here.”
Rice recovered sufficiently from his knee injury in time to participate in the Chiefs’ offseason program, and he was able to take part in all of training camp. But once the season began, Rice had to remain away from the team, a punishment he agreed to when all parties decided it was in his best interest to get the six-game suspension out of the way.
Rice said he spent most of the time away in Florida, where the heat and humidity helped him stay in shape. He would work out Monday through Friday, then do another workout Sunday, as he tried to replicate what a typical game week is like.
The games themselves, Rice said, he would watch with family members. Kansas City lost its first two but has since won three of four, including a dominant victory last week over the Detroit Lions, widely considered a Super Bowl contender.
“I mean, the best thing for me is to be around the guys. I got leaders in each room, even on defense, that help me on and off the field,” Rice said. “That’s the best part about being on a team like this. You have everybody to support you.”
Rice pleaded guilty to two felony charges for the wreck, including “collision involving serious bodily injury” and “racing on a highway causing bodily injury.” The district attorney’s office in Dallas said that Rice paid more than $115,000 in restitution to the victims, and his 30-day jail sentence can be served at any point during his five years of probation.
Rice declined Friday to discuss any of the legal issues he has faced, preferring to instead talk solely about football.
“I learned that I love the game of football,” he replied, when asked what he had learned over the past year-plus. “I was able to realize how strong I am mentally, being able to face a lot of adversity.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid wouldn’t say whether Rice would be on a snap count in his first game since Sept. 29, 2024, when he got hurt against the Chargers. But with a wide receiver corps that includes Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs are in the enviable position of not having to rush Rice back into the mix.
“I’m sure he’s excited to play. He hasn’t played a real game for a year and six weeks,” Reid said. “I’m just going to watch it in the game. He knows everything. How many reps he gets – I’m sure it won’t be every rep. We’ll just see how he does.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons remained away from practice Friday for what Reid called “personal reasons,” leaving Jaylon Moore in line to start his second consecutive game. Simmons, the Chiefs’ first-round pick in April, was a late scratch from last week’s game against Detroit, and Moore stepped in on short notice and did an admirable job.
“I know the work that Jaylon has put in. He’s been professional every single day,” Mahomes said. “He’s done his job and done it well, and having those reps in training camp and OTAs, I know he’s going to go out there and battle.
“You’ve seen it now,” Mahomes added. “He’s a starting tackle in this league and can go out there and compete against anybody.”
Vikings to start Wentz vs. Eagles
Eagan, Minn. – Carson Wentz will start at quarterback again this week for the Minnesota Vikings, his fourth straight game subbing for the recovering J.J. McCarthy.
Coach Kevin O’Connell made the announcement after practice Friday, saying he feels good about McCarthy’s rehab. But the 2024 first-round draft pick will serve as the emergency quarterback behind Wentz and backup Max Brosmer.
“I was proud of the way he attacked this week,” O’Connell said. “Although he knows he’s not quite all the way there yet, he’s progressing in a really good way.”
McCarthy took part on a limited basis this week, his first practices since suffering a high sprain of his right ankle during his second career start on Sept. 14.
Wentz will start on Sunday against Philadelphia, the team that drafted him second overall in 2016. The Vikings are Wentz’s sixth team in six seasons. He has completed 69% of his passes for 759 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions while leading them to victories over Cincinnati and Cleveland and losing to Pittsburgh. The Vikings (3-2) had a bye last week.
McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024, missed his entire rookie season after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. McCarthy said Wednesday his ankle is not yet 100% healthy, and O’Connell has said he wants to see him sharpen his lower-body passing mechanics during his ramp back up from the injury.
Jaguars’ Etienne ‘thriving’ in London
Watford, England – Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. recalls the Wembley Stadium crowd being “electric” on the day he rushed for a career-high 156 yards against Denver in 2022.
His 1-yard touchdown run put the Jags ahead before the Broncos rallied for a 21-17 victory.
After a down year, Etienne says he’s “thriving” physically and mentally as the Jaguars return to Wembley on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Rams.
“I’ve grown to love London,” Etienne told The Associated Press after practice on Friday.
Who wouldn’t? He said he enjoys shopping and exploring in the city, and Etienne also racked up 136 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 25-20 win over the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023.
Etienne, who missed his 2021 rookie season with a foot injury, had back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons but a year ago compiled only 558 yards on 150 carries. He sustained a hamstring injury in the first of back-to-back London games last season.
“Last year was just battling a lot of injuries … trying to just be available for Sunday, to where this year I’m thriving, body feels better, mindset and scheme,” said Etienne, who is in the final year of his contract. “Our scheme is a lot better, I feel like everybody has a much better understanding of what’s going on.”
Head coach Liam Coen, hired in January, said Etienne “came in with the right mindset” this season.
“There were some days early on that were ‘hey man, you’ve got to get your butt in this facility and come meet with us,’ and he did, and credit him,” Coen said.
Etienne spent time with running backs coach Chad Morton “all throughout this whole offseason,” Coen said.
“TJ has really been on the screws with the details of our offense – the why,” he added. “And then you’re seeing it show up in his play.”
Through six games, Etienne has 470 yards on 89 carries for a 5.3 average with two rushing touchdowns. He’s also caught 13 passes for 69 yards and a score.
In the season opener, he ran for 143 yards in a 26-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Last week, though, Etienne rushed for a season-low 27 yards on 12 carries in Jacksonville’s 20-12 loss to the Seahawks.
Etienne credits Coen and the new coaching staff with making it easy to “buy in” to the system.
Morton, the position coach, “told me I had to meet with him every day,” Etienne said. “After I get done working out, take my shower, and then go see him before I’d go home. Me and coach Morton definitely built a great relationship. He helps us get our mindset right.”
Tank Bigsby led the Jags in rushing last season, but he was traded to Philadelphia last month.
Jags optimistic on Hainsey’s return
Center Robert Hainsey was on track to return from a hamstring injury that kept him out of last week’s game.
“It’s obviously the mentality, the toughness, the physicality, the leadership, the standard and command that he continues to push. Having him out there would be really important for us,” Coen said.
Hainsey was a full participant at practice Thursday and Friday. The Jags rushed for just 59 yards against the Seahawks and quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sacked a career-high seven times.
The 27-year-old Hainsey signed in the offseason from Tampa Bay, where he played in Coen’s offense – the Jags coach was the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator last season – though mainly as a backup.
“So much of our collaboration on working through an offense was run through Hainsey, even when he wasn’t the starting center for us,” Coen said. “You’re bouncing protection ideas off of him, run schemes, ways of targeting runs and how he sees defensive structures.”
Jags players voted Hainsey as one of the captains this season.
Jonah Monheim filled in last week and “played really well,” Coen said. “He’s continued to get better week in and week out, but having Hainsey would be really important for us.”
Falcons’ McCloud off with ‘excused absence’
Flowery Branch, Ga. – Atlanta Falcons receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III will miss his second consecutive game after coach Raheem Morris “sent him home.”
Morris described the decision Friday as a private matter between the receiver and the Falcons (3-2). McCloud has been the team’s No. 3 receiver since last season.
“Excused absence – home,” Morris said following practice. “Working through some things right now that are private with my young man, and we’ll figure those things out as we go.”
McCloud was a healthy scratch for Atlanta’s win against Buffalo on Monday night and won’t travel with the team for Sunday’s game at San Francisco (4-2). McCloud did not practice Thursday or Friday for what the team said was non-injury-related reasons.
The Falcons fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard following a 30-0 loss to Carolina in Week 3. McCloud and Hilliard are close, but Morris said Hilliard’s dismissal was unrelated to McCloud’s situation. He also said it should not be considered a disciplinary issue.
“It is just more a football thing and what we got to get straightened out,” Morris said.
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