Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will serve a six-game suspension to open the 2025 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero had initially reported that Rice was accepting the suspension.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the league wanted a ban of “at least” six games at the start of the season.
A six-game suspension means Rice will be eligible to return for the Chiefs’ Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 19. He will miss games against the Los Angeles Chargers (Week 1), Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2), New York Giants (Week 3), Baltimore Ravens (Week 4), Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 5) and Detroit Lions (Week 6).
The agreement on a suspension ends a brief standoff between Rice, the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
Schefter previously reported a disciplinary hearing was expected to take place on Sept. 30. The hearing was scheduled because the three parties involved couldn’t agree to terms on the length of a suspension.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL initially proposed a suspension of at least 10 games, but the union and Rice’s camp pushed back because there “is no precedent” for a suspension of that length under these circumstances.
Even though the disciplinary hearing was scheduled, there was always the possibility that Rice’s suspension would come down sooner if all parties could reach agreement on how long it would be.
The situation stems from Rice’s involvement in a multi-car crash on a highway in Dallas in March 2024. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation after pleading guilty to two third-degree felony charges in July.
Rice can serve his 30-day jail sentence at any time during his five-year probationary period.
Rice played only four games last season due to a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns prior to the injury.
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