The Kansas City Chiefs will be without standout wide receiver Rashee Rice when they take the field against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Rice is in concussion protocol after reporting symptoms earlier in the week, following a series of heavy hits during the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Given the circumstances, it’s a smart and necessary move by the Chiefs to hold Rice out. With Patrick Mahomes sidelined for the remainder of the season and Kansas City officially out of the playoff picture, there's no upside in rushing back a key offensive weapon-especially when it comes to a head injury. The long-term health of a young receiver like Rice is far more important than a late-season game with no postseason implications.
Rice has been a major contributor since returning from a six-game suspension to start the season. In the eight games he’s played, he’s been targeted 78 times, catching 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns.
That’s not just productive-that’s a go-to guy in the passing game. He’s been on the field for over 73% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps since his return, a clear indicator of how central he’s become to their game plan.
Replacing that level of involvement and production won’t be easy. The Chiefs, while favored against a struggling Titans squad, are now entering the final stretch of the season with evaluation on their minds more than wins. That opens the door for younger players to get meaningful reps-and perhaps, for someone to surprise.
One name to watch is rookie wideout Jalen Royals. The Utah State product hasn’t logged a catch yet this season, but this could be his chance to show what he can do with Rice out of the lineup.
Chiefs ruled out Rashee Rice, Trent McDuffie, Leo Chenal, Jaylon Moore, Jawaan Taylor, Tyquan Thornton, Jake Briningstool, Nazeeh Johnson, and Derrick Nnadi for Sunday's game agains the Titans.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 19, 2025
Royals is raw, but the Chiefs may want to see if he can bring something to the table heading into 2026. These are the types of games where hidden gems can emerge, and Royals will have a golden opportunity to make his case.
With three games left, Kansas City is shifting into talent evaluation mode. That means more snaps for younger players, experimentation with depth chart rotations, and a focus on development over results.
And while the stakes may be low in terms of standings, the implications for the future are very real. Sunday's game might not change the playoff picture, but it could help shape the Chiefs’ roster decisions going forward.