Why Rashee Rice accepted his six-game suspension now, and how Chiefs will have to cope

"One of the reasons Wednesday's on-field work was more quiet than usual was because of who was absent: wide receiver Rashee Rice. A few hours before the Chiefs' practice began, Rice, a three-year player and the No. 1 receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, accepted a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, punishment that the league made official Wednesday afternoon. Rice will not be eligible to return until the Oct. 7 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7."

"The Chiefs have considered this scenario and have a plan that includes the rest of their rotation of receivers in Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton. "That's not just something we did recently," offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said last week of the possibility of Rice's suspension occurring prior to Week 1. "We've thought it through. There's a little bit of juggling, not only just with (a suspension) but also his health, making sure you balance both of those things together.""

Rashee Rice accepted a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy and will not be eligible to return until Oct. 7 in Week 7. His absence made the Chiefs' Wednesday practice quieter and raised immediate questions about how the offense will function without its top receiver. The Chiefs have a prepared plan to rely on Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton within the receiving rotation. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said the team anticipated the possibility and worked through adjustments while balancing Rice's suspension status and health. Rice had been Mahomes' most-targeted receiver during training camp.

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