playNate TaylorOct 16, 2026, 02:51 PM ETMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rashee Rice, the Chiefs’ top receiver, is out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a right hamstring injury. He missed each of the team’s three practices this week.Rice sustained his injury in Week 4 during the Chiefs’ comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders. In the first quarter of the game, Rice caught a 7-yard reception but stumbled and pulled up while trying to gain yards after the catch, ending the play by going out of bounds.Reid suggested it’s possible Rice could be available next week when the Chiefs play the Seattle Seahawks on “Sunday Night Football.””He’s out there and wanting to jump in on everything,” Reid said of Rice. “He’ll be all right.
You never know about these [hamstring injuries], but he’s a pretty fast healer.”Even before coach Andy Reid shared Friday that Rice would be unavailable, the Chiefs were already without receiver Tyquan Thornton, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week after suffering a dislocated left ankle. As part of the Chiefs’ 4-0 start, the team’s best receivers have been Rice and Thornton. The two have combined for 24 catches on 31 targets for 409 yards and three touchdowns.Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is expected to rely on tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Xavier Worthy to maintain the Chiefs’ passing attack. Two young receivers should also see their snaps increase against Chargers: rookie Cyrus Allen and second-year player Jalen Royals.”They’re ready,” Mahomes said Wednesday.
“They’ve put in the work. Obviously, we’ve had the guys in front of them, with Tyquan going out there and playing great, so they’ve had to put in the work at practice. They’re going to step into the role and do their job, so I’m excited for them. We’ll put them in [a] position to succeed.
I have a lot of trust in those guys.”In training camp, Allen was one of the most impressive players, as he was able to quickly build timing and chemistry with Mahomes.”They’re putting plays in, and I’ve got a couple packages here and there,” Allen said Wednesday of the coaching staff. “I’m just getting ready. I’m more comfortable now. I’m going to be pretty hyped [after my first catch].
I only need one to get me going.”One positive for the Chiefs this week was that left tackle Josh Simmons, the 2025 first-round pick, participated in each of the three practices this week for the first time in almost two months. Simmons has been out with a bulging disc in his lower back. Although Reid said Simmons is also out for Sunday’s game, the left tackle was able to begin his process of rebuilding his conditioning to return to the lineup soon to be Mahomes’ blind-side protector.”He’s getting better as we go here,” Reid said of Simmons. “He didn’t work in the team periods [this week], but that was the idea, though, just so he can get a base under him with some fundamentals and techniques and start getting that back.
He was excited to be back out there with the guys on the field instead of the meeting room.”
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