Overview

• The NFL’s personal conduct department plans to suspend Rice for four to six games over a 2024 reckless-driving crash.
• Coach Andy Reid intends to deploy JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie Jalen Royals in the slot, with Tyquan Thornton operating as the team’s deep threat.
• Rice’s deferred adjudication deal from last year carried five years of probation, a 30-day jail term and a $1.086 million civil settlement.
• After lateral knee surgery late in 2024, Rice is expected to be fully healthy once his suspension concludes.
• His absence will provide an early test of Kansas City’s receiver depth behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes.