Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice faces suspension

The Kansas City Chiefs seem to be without wide receiver Rashee Rice for some part of the 2024 NFL season. Adam Schefter has reported the potential length of a pending suspension.

Rashee Rice is facing criminal charges and lawsuits for his alleged role in starting a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas, Texas in late March.

Shefter of ESPN wrote what he heard around the NFL as the 2024 NFL Draft approaches. His comments about the Chiefs are receiver-heavy, beginning with his expectations for Rice’s possible suspension.

“He is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury,” Schefter writes. “He turned himself in to police last week at the Regional Jail in DeSoto, Texas, before being released on bond. On top of the legal issues and lawsuit he is facing Rice is expected to be disciplined by the NFL, resulting in at least a multi-game suspension.”

What does Adam Schefter’s report spell for Rice?

Schefter’s phrase “at least a multi-game suspension” is interesting for certain reasons. First, it sets the stage. The NFL could suspend Rice for at least two matches. Besides that, what does Schefter mean by “at least?

Technically, a 16-game suspension would be “multi-game’’ but less than a year-long ban.

Based on Schefter’s phrasing, “multi-game’’ could be anything from a two-game suspension to an eight-game suspension. More than eight matches would be more than half of a season.

Realistically, one would argue that the reporter inferred a two-to-six-game suspension for Rice in that phrasing (with NFL precedent leaning toward the four-to-six-game range). However, the NFL will suspend Rashee Rice for “at least” two matches.