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It’s been a busy offseason for Rashee Rice, for all the wrong reasons. Three months removed from helping the Kansas City Chiefs win a Super Bowl as a rookie, Rice is facing two legal battles stemming from a multi-car accident and an alleged assault in Dallas.
Rice faces eight felony charges from his involvement in the March accident, but he may yet escape consequences from the assault that allegedly occurred on May 6. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the photographer who accused Rice of punching him in the face outside a Dallas nightclub is withdrawing his complaint and wants the charges dropped.
The photographer filed an affidavit and said it was a “misunderstanding” between him and Rice. The original complaint alleged that Rice punched the photographer in the face after luring him back to the club via a message on Instagram. The police report said that the man had “visible swelling on one side of his face.”
Though Rice’s attorney has made it clear that the 24-year-old is fully cooperating with authorities regarding the accident, he nor Rice has issued a public statement about the alleged assault.
Rashee Rice back with the Chiefs as legal proceedings continue
Amid his off-the-field issues, Rice is present at Chiefs OTAs this week and will be a full participant in all activities, per Adam Schefter. The Chiefs and the NFL will wait for the legal side of things to play out before issuing any discipline toward Rice.
Rice reportedly faces a lengthy suspension from the league but is allowed to be with the team as the accident case unfolds. He’s expected to continue his cooperation with investigators after turning himself in on April 11.
Among the eight charges he faces are six counts of collision involving bodily injury, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault.
Rice being back with the Chiefs and focusing on football is likely a good thing even if he will miss time this season. Kansas City has big expectations for the second-year wideout after he led all Chiefs wide receivers in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season, topped only by Travis Kelce in the first two categories.
Chiefs wide receivers were a hot topic throughout the 2023 season. The group led the NFL in drops and no one other than Rice emerged as a legitimate threat. Kansas City made the position a focus this offseason, signing Marquise Brown via free agency and drafting Texas product Xavier Worthy in the first round after he broke the NFL Combine record for fastest 40-yard dash time.
The Chiefs will love their chances of becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Rashee Rice can be a major contributor to the 2024 Chiefs, but his availability rests with the ongoing legal proceedings of the March car accident and his expected subsequent suspension.
More must-reads:
- Justin Jefferson agrees to record-setting contract extension with Vikings
- Commanders release kicker Brandon McManus following his lawsuit
- The 'Recent seasons with 1,000 receiving yards' quiz
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