The Kansas City Chiefs held on for a 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, improving to 4-0, but the win came with early and late injuries to the wide receiver group.
Rashee Rice left the game in the first quarter after a non-contact issue on a short catch from Patrick Mahomes. He pulled up while trying to turn upfield and headed to the sideline.
The team first listed him as questionable to return with a right hamstring injury, then downgraded him to doubtful. He did not re-enter the contest.
In his postgame remarks, coach Andy Reid said Rice “tweaked” his hamstring. The description suggested the issue might not be severe, though further evaluation was expected.
Rice stayed on the sideline for the rest of the afternoon, stretching and talking with staff, which offered a modest positive sign compared with players who leave for the locker room immediately.
The Chiefs now have their bye week, giving Rice roughly two weeks before the next game. Kansas City hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 18.
Entering Sunday, Rice had 13 receptions for 190 yards and one touchdown through three games. Those totals ranked him among the team’s most productive pass catchers early in the season.
His strongest outing came in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins, when he caught seven passes for 88 yards. He had also posted four catches for 83 yards the week before against Indianapolis.
Rice is in the final season of his rookie contract. Consistent availability and production remain central if he hopes to secure a larger deal in the coming offseason.
Part of his role this year has involved run blocking as the Chiefs lean on the ground game. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in the win.
With Rice sidelined for nearly the entire game, Xavier Worthy finished with four receptions for a season-high 70 yards. Worthy had drawn criticism for a slow start before the matchup.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addressed Worthy’s preparation earlier in the week.
“Xavier does a great job in his mental and physical preparation each and every week,” Bieniemy said. “We got stuff for him. Sometimes things are taken away, and that’s when you got to give hats off to the defense. Obviously, we got to find a way to get a little bit more creative with him, But I’ll say this, he’s actually doing a heck of a job in the running game. He’s blocking.”
The receiver injuries were not limited to Rice. Tyquan Thornton suffered a gruesome-looking left leg injury late in the fourth quarter and was carted off. He had already recorded five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns before the play.
Mahomes completed 15 of 30 passes for 225 yards and two scores without an interception. The Chiefs’ fourth-quarter surge, built largely on Walker’s runs, overcame a Raiders team that had entered the day undefeated.
Further updates on both Rice and Thornton are expected in the coming days as the medical staff completes imaging and assessments during the bye.
