Chiefs Get Encouraging Rashee Rice Injury Update

The Kansas City Chiefs received some encouraging news about one of the two wide receivers they lost to injuries Sunday.

Rashee Rice's hamstring injury is believed to be relatively minor, and the Chiefs' Week 5 bye could allow him to avoid missing a game, according to RotoWire, citing NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rice left Sunday's 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter after catching a short pass from Patrick Mahomes.

He limped toward the sideline after the five-yard reception and did not return.

The Chiefs initially announced Rice was questionable to return with a hamstring injury before ruling him out. But the latest report indicates the injury isn't considered serious and that Rice could be ready when Kansas City returns from its bye.

The timing could hardly be better for the Chiefs.

Kansas City doesn't play again until it hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 18, giving Rice two weeks between games to recover.

The encouraging update is particularly important because Kansas City wasn't nearly as fortunate with Tyquan Thornton.

Thornton suffered a dislocated left ankle late in Sunday's victory and is expected to miss 12 to 16 weeks, according to NFL Network's latest report. There remains hope Thornton could return late in the regular season or during the playoffs.

Thornton had been enjoying his best game as a Chief before the injury, catching five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City's 30-27 victory over the Raiders.

The injuries also contributed to renewed speculation about a reunion with former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill. Kansas City has reached out to Hill's agent as the team evaluates its options at receiver.

Rice's return would ease some of that pressure.

The fourth-year receiver entered the Raiders game as one of Mahomes' primary targets and had been a key part of a Chiefs offense that used Rice's blocking tendencies to create big plays earlier this season.

Kansas City is 4-0 and enters its bye as the AFC's only unbeaten team.

Losing Thornton for an extended period leaves the Chiefs with a significant hole at receiver. But if Rice can use the bye to recover without missing a game, Kansas City may have avoided losing both of Mahomes' top receiving options at the same time.