Kansas City Chiefs fans can breathe a sigh of relief! Wide receiver Rashee Rice, a key component of the Chiefs' offense, has returned to practice after a brief absence due to a groin injury. Rice's return comes after he missed a few days, including the team's first preseason game.
The injury, revealed on August 6th, caused some concern, especially considering Rice is coming off a serious knee injury that cut his sophomore season short in Week 4 after a promising start where he hauled in 24 passes for 288 yards in the Chiefs’ first three games. However, it appears the situation was avoided, and Rice was back on the field with his teammates on Monday. Cornerback Kristian Fulton also took another step forward, taking part in Monday’s team drills.
"Rashee Rice is back at practice today," tweeted Matt Foster, confirming the good news for Chiefs Kingdom.
Other Chiefs Injury Updates
While Rice's return is a positive sign, the Chiefs are still dealing with other injuries. Six players were held out of practice on Monday. Tight end Jake Briningstool (hamstring) missed his 11th day, while wide receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle) has been out for seven days. Coach Reid mentioned that Brown has started running and is "close" to returning.
T Ethan Driskell (appendectomy), cornerback Jaylen Watson (concussion), defensive end Janarius Robinson (toe/foot fracture), and safety Deon Bush (Achilles) also missed practice. Watson, Robinson, and Bush sustained their injuries during Saturday’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Additionally, the team signed defensive end Nate Matlack to the roster. Matlack played his high school ball at Olathe East before spending three years at Kansas State and his final collegiate season at Pitt. He participated in the team’s rookie minicamp in June.
Looking Ahead
Practice on Monday was designed to be light, but Rice's presence is a welcome sight for the Chiefs. Groin injuries can be tricky and linger, so his quick return is a positive development. The Chiefs are hoping Rice can build on his early success from last season and become a reliable target for Patrick Mahomes as they aim for another Super Bowl run.