Balancing a 30-day jail sentence with rigorous knee rehabilitation, Rashee Rice faces a pivotal offseason as Andy Reid provides a critical update on the receiver's summer availability.
It hasn't been the best of times for former SMU receiver Rashee Rice, as the Kansas City Chiefs weapon is in jail, serving 30 days after reportedly testing positive for THC, which, according to reports, violated his probation.
So that is bad enough, but to make it worse, Rice was rehabbing his knee after needing surgery to clean up some ligament debris.
So being in jail, and having to rehab isn't the best of spots for Rice, as now some are thinking if the Chiefs will want the receiver around long-term as he is in the final year of his rookie contract.
But now the question is whether Rice will be healthy enough to be ready to go when training camp begins for the Chiefs.
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Head coach Andy Reid was asked how Rashee is trending, health-wise as OTAs continue for the AFC West franchise.
"So Rick's [Burkholder, vice president of sports medicine and performance] talked to him more than what I have and just making sure that everything was set there where he could do some rehab with it and still do the time that he needed to take care of," Reid said. "So he's on top of that, and thank goodness that they're allowing him to do it. So they've been great with that."
So, Rice is getting to do the rehab he needs to be able to do for his knee to give him the best shot at being the receiver the Chiefs need him to be.
But that brings us to another important note: whether Rice will be ready to participate in training camp, which, as we know, is vital to laying a good foundation for the season ahead.
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Given his current circumstances, will Rice be ready to roll when camp rolls around?
"I think he will be," Reid added. "He gets out here next week. We'll see where it goes. He'll be back up here and working."
So that is a positive for Chiefs fans, as their offense without Rice could be in serious trouble.
Coming into the final year of his rookie contract, Rice has to make 2026 count because it isn't a guarantee that he'll be back in 2027 with Kansas City.
Especially if the off the field issues remain.
