Rashee Rice Enters Concussion Protocol Ahead of Week 16, Casting Doubt on Availability
The Kansas City Chiefs are facing a fresh injury concern as rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice has been placed in the concussion protocol ahead of Week 16. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed Wednesday that Rice will not participate in practice while he navigates the league’s five-step return-to-play process.
This development comes as a bit of a surprise, considering there were no immediate signs that Rice had suffered a head injury during the Chiefs’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. But if you watched that game closely, you saw Rice take some serious contact while trying to haul in passes from Patrick Mahomes. The hits were hard enough to raise eyebrows at the time, and now we know why.
The timing of the injury throws a wrench into any plans the Chiefs had for finishing strong, even if their postseason hopes have already been dashed. While Kansas City is out of the playoff picture, Rice’s status still matters - especially to those in the fantasy football world who have been riding his late-season surge.
Rice has emerged as a reliable target in an otherwise inconsistent Chiefs receiving corps. His chemistry with Mahomes had been building week by week, and his ability to create yards after the catch gave Kansas City a much-needed spark. But with Mahomes now sidelined for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL and LCL, that dynamic changes dramatically.
Enter Gardner Minshew, who will be under center for the final weeks. Minshew is a capable backup, but the shift at quarterback introduces a lot of uncertainty - especially for a young receiver like Rice who was just finding his rhythm. For fantasy managers, this makes Rice a risky play even if he clears protocol in time for Sunday.
To return to action, Rice will need to progress through the NFL’s concussion protocol, which includes a full practice before he can be cleared by an independent neurologist. Until that happens, his Week 16 status remains very much up in the air.
For the Chiefs, the priority now is Rice’s health and long-term development. He’s shown flashes of being a key piece in the offense moving forward, and Kansas City will want to make sure he’s fully recovered before putting him back on the field. Whether or not he suits up this week, Rice has already made a strong impression in his rookie campaign - and if he’s back to full strength in 2026, the Chiefs will have something to build on.