The NFL has suspended Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice to start the 2025 NFL season. How many games will he miss?
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Suspended
Official: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice now has been suspended for the first six weeks of this season. pic.twitter.com/yDD2EgVMdP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2025
It’s now official. Rice is suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Per the NFL, Rice violated the league’s conduct policy for his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas during the 2024 offseason.
Rice will not appeal and will serve all six games of the suspension.
Kansas City Chiefs Schedule
- Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers (Brazil)
- Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 3: at New York Giants
- Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Week 5: at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions
Rice’s suspension begins immediately, and he will be eligible for reinstatement on Monday, October 13. The earliest Rice could play is in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rice is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Sept. 30.
Judge Sue L. Robinson will serve as the disciplinary officer at Rice’s hearing. Robinson previously presided over Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary hearing in 2022.
The league and the NFL Players Association could not agree on the length of Rice’s suspension.
Rice has been previously scheduled for an NFL disciplinary meeting on Sept. 30. Judge Sue L. Robinson, who presided over Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary hearing in 2022, was set to oversee Rice’s hearing.
If the Sept. 30 hearing were still in effect, then Rice would have been eligible to play the first four weeks of the season before serving a suspension later this season.
Last month, Rice, 25, pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges, including Collision Involving Serious Bodily Injury and Racing on a Highway Causing Bodily Injury.
Rice received a jail sentence of 30 days and five years of probation. Rice can serve the jail time at any point during his probationary period.
In March 2024, Rice caused a multi-car crash after driving recklessly in traffic. After his car struck another vehicle, Rice fled the scene on foot.
Rice was ordered to pay restitution to the victims for their out-of-pocket medical expenses —$115,481.91 — before his plea deal.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas,” Defense Counsel Royce West said in a statement released on Rice’s behalf. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole “I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”
Looking At the Chiefs’ Roster Without Rashee Rice
We have announced roster moves.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 26, 2025
When Rice plays, he’s the clear No. 1 receiver for Patrick Mahomes.
As a rookie in 2023, Rice recorded 79 receptions, 938 yards, and seven touchdowns. Rice made 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in four games last season.
Rice’s season came to an end in Week 4 after a brutal knee injury.
Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster are slated to be Kansas City’s top receivers in Rice’s absence.
Mahomes will also rely on tight end Travis Kelce to produce with Rice out.
