The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a tough Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, and they may have to do it without one of their most dynamic young weapons. Rashee Rice, the standout wide receiver who’s become a key piece of the Chiefs’ offense, has yet to practice this week as he remains in concussion protocol. Thursday marked his second straight missed session, and with the game looming, his availability is very much in doubt.
Rice isn’t the only receiver the Chiefs are monitoring. Tyquan Thornton is also sidelined, undergoing evaluation for a concussion of his own.
Both players took hard hits in Week 15 against the Chargers, with safety Tony Jefferson delivering the kind of collisions that get circled in film sessions. One of those hits - a brutal shot across the middle on Rice - had the Chiefs' sideline holding its breath.
Thornton took a similar blow from Jefferson, one that sparked a near melee and ultimately got Jefferson tossed from the game.
2nd straight week Rashee Rice is just DELETED by a defender pic.twitter.com/lz7gHbUZZD
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) December 14, 2025
Kansas City’s injury report is crowded this week, and while several players have returned to limited participation, Rice and Thornton remain notable absences. Linebacker Leo Chenal, cornerback Trent McDuffie, offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, and wideout Jaylon Moore are also listed, making this one of the more concerning weeks on the health front for Andy Reid’s squad.
The timing couldn’t be worse. The Chiefs’ offense has already been forced into a major adjustment after losing Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending ACL tear.
With Gardner Minshew II now stepping in under center for Week 17, the margin for error is razor-thin. And if Rice - who’s been a reliable target and a spark plug after the catch - can’t go, Kansas City’s passing game will be even more limited.
That puts added pressure on the rest of the receiving corps. JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to take on a heavier workload, while rookies Jalen Royals and Nikko Remigio could see expanded roles. Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown will also be leaned on to stretch the field and create separation, but without Rice and Thornton, the Chiefs lose two of their more physical, fearless route-runners - the kind of guys who thrive on tough catches in traffic.
With playoff hopes already dashed and the offense in transition, Kansas City is in evaluation mode. But don’t mistake that for apathy - this team still has pride, and they’ll want to finish strong. If Rice and Thornton can’t clear protocol in time, it’ll be a next-man-up situation for a group that’s already been through the wringer this season.