The Kansas City Chiefs have found a new way to use Rashee Rice, and it looks borrowed straight from the Los Angeles Rams.
Rice, known most for his yards-after-catch burst and for trouble off the field, is being lined up for a more physical job inside. According to Jesse Newell of The Athletic, the Chiefs are asking him to function as a blocker in a role modeled after Rams receiver Puka Nacua. That wrinkle opens the door to play-action looks, and Kansas City has already started leaning into it after featuring running back Kenneth Walker III in its opening win over the Denver Broncos.
The specific concept Newell pointed to is a “C-Gap insert.” It starts with a fake run block, then turns into a route into the middle of the field from that gap area. On Kansas City’s version, Rice turned it into a 30-yard gain.
Rice appears to be embracing the assignment, though the circumstances around him help explain why. He is up for an extension that was in serious doubt entering the season. He also missed minicamp after getting busted for THC and having his parole revoked, and he arrived at training camp with his status still uncertain after his rehab was interrupted by a 30-day jail sentence.
There is obvious danger in asking Rice to take on this kind of work. He is smaller than Nacua, and the Chiefs do not have much depth at receiver. Even a minor injury would spark plenty of second-guessing, and that would not be hard to understand.
Still, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy praised Rice for how he handled it. Bieniemy, who was hired to restore discipline, has pushed the receivers to buy into becoming blockers, and so far that message has taken.
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