Why Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is raving about Rashee Rice: ‘There’s no limitations’

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has gotten a close look at Rashee Rice over the past few months as the receiver has worked to come back from a season-ending knee injury.

And Mahomes’ thoughts so far?

“He looks like Rashee,” Mahomes said Thursday following the team’s Organized Team Activities practice at the team facility. “Obviously having the injury, it sucked. But happening so early in the season, he was back right when the offseason started.”

Rice’s timeline, though unfortunate for last season, has undoubtedly helped his preparation for 2025.

As a reminder, Rice went down in Week 4 last year before having surgery to repair the LCL in his right knee. Because that all took place by early October, Rice had enough recovery and rehab time to fully participate in April workouts and passing drills at a Mahomes-hosted gathering in Dallas.

And though Rice missed Thursday’s Chiefs practice because he was “under the weather,” according to coach Andy Reid, the signs with Rice to this point have been promising.

“Getting him back out here, there’s no limitations. He’s out there playing,” Mahomes said. “He’s making plays on the football field. He’s explosive. He looks fast. And I mean, you saw the start of last season, I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league.”

Rice was off to an All-Pro-type start in 2024 before his setback; he had 24 catches for 288 yards in his first four games, while also ranking No. 1 in the NFL at the time with 185 yards after the catch.

Reid said that Rice was “great” in workouts earlier this month, but for precautionary reasons, the Chiefs kept him away from his teammates while he was ill this week. Back at the NFL Annual Meetings in March, Reid told The Star that Rice was on track to be ready for the start of training camp in July.

Rice’s return could be part of a more explosive Chiefs receivers group — if everyone stays healthy. Among those returning to KC this season are Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and back-end-roster candidates Skyy Moore, Tyquan Thornton and Nikko Remigio.

The Chiefs also selected Jalen Royals, who tied for the fastest 10-yard split time at the NFL Combine, in the fourth round of April’s draft.

“We’re fast. I think that’s probably the thing that stands out the most,” Mahomes said of his team’s wideouts. “You talk about Xavier, Rashee, Hollywood, Thornton, Royals coming in … we’ve got guys that can roll.”

Patrick Mahomes: Rashee Rice looks like himself, can be one of the best WRs in the NFL

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice’s return from his season-ending knee injury appears to be going well.

Rice was under the weather for Thursday’s OTA open to the media, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared his impressions of what he’s seen from Rice so far this offseason. Rice’s injury happened in Week Four and Mahomes said the timing allowed the wideout to be “up here working hard” shortly after the season ended with their Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.

Mahomes said Rice is now moving with “no limitations” and looking like the wideout who turned in a strong rookie season.

“He’s out there playing, he’s making plays on the football field,” Mahomes said. “He’s explosive; he looks fast. You saw the start of last season. I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league.”

The Chiefs were also without Hollywood Brown for much of last season and teaming both wideouts with Xavier Worthy is something the team has been waiting to see for some time.