NFL Pushing for Unprecedented Suspension for Chiefs WR Rashee Rice: Report

NFL Pushing for Unprecedented Suspension for Chiefs WR Rashee Rice: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

With less than three weeks until the start of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs still don’t have much clarity on when or how long they will be without star wide receiver Rashee Rice.

The 25-year-old wideout pleaded guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges — collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury — stemming from his involvement in a multi-car crash that left several people injured in March 2024.

A judge sentenced Rice to 30 days of jail time and five years of probation, but not the only question remaining is how long the NFL will suspend him for during the 2025 season, which if the league has its way, will be quite a while, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“The expectation is Rashee Rice is going to be suspended for a portion of the 2025 season,” Pelissero reported. “The question now is how much? My understanding is the NFL initially proposed a lengthy suspension — double-digit games for Rashee Rice — the players union and Rice’s attorney and agents argued for a much shorter suspension, in part, because there is no precedent for suspending someone for over half the season in a case like this.”

The NFL initially proposed a lengthy suspension that would sideline #Chiefs WR Rashee Rice for over half the season. And while a Sept. 30 hearing date has been set, it’s still possible a settlement could be reached before the season. @NFLGameDay@nflnetworkpic.twitter.com/kHOozuu1RW

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 15, 2025

Per guidelines in the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, players who don’t agree with the proposed suspension for personal conduct policy violations can have a judge determine their punishment.

With a disciplinary hearing set for Sept. 30 with judge Sue L. Robinson, who oversaw the Deshaun Watson case a few years ago, Rice is eligible to play in the Chiefs first four games of the year against the Los Angeles Chargers (Sept. 5), Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 14), New York Giants (Sept. 21) and Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 28).

Pelissero also noted there’s a chance Rice and the league could come to an agreement before then, which would suspend him for the beginning of the year and not risk him missing any playoff games.

“There is still a possibility the sides could come together and agree to a settlement on a suspension that would allow Rice to be suspended at the start of the season,” Pelissero added.

“If not, he would be eligible for at least those first (four) games, but given the fact that not only the decision-making process but potential appeals could extend that process into October or November, this is something then that could jeopardize his availability for the postseason.”

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.