Rashee Rice’s offseason has not gone according to plan — not for the player and certainly not for his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs demand high standards from everyone in their organization — standards that were not met when Rice was involved in a six-car accident on a Dallas freeway on March 30.

Rice has been sued for his role in the multi-vehicle crash, and he is facing eight charges that stem from the accident — brought about by Rice and a friend deciding to speed race on a busy north-south highway. The wide receiver was arrested and briefly jailed for his role in the accident — and now he awaits the NFL’s punishment, which sounds like it is going to be significant.

Rice set to miss half of the 2024 season?

The NFL appears poised to “make an example” out of Rice and deter players from engaging in dangerous activities like speed racing in the future. According to reporter James Palmer — appearing on retired receiver Steve Smith’s podcast — the Chiefs are preparing for the NFL to suspend Rice for “at least” half of the 2024 season.

This would be a massive blow to the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who used Rice heavily during his rookie season when there was little consistency elsewhere in Kansas City’s receiving corps. In his rookie season, the second-round pick delivered to the tune of 79 receptions, 938 yards, and seven touchdowns — carving out a preferred role in head coach Andy Reid’s offense and becoming a top target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

If and when Rice’s suspension is announced, the Chiefs will have to pivot formally toward granting rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy an important role in the offense to begin the 2024 season. Worthy, a favorite of Mahomes’ before the draft, was selected with the last pick in the first round this year, and the speedster would have to provide an immediate boost for the Kansas City offense should Rice’s suspension drag into November.