Patrick Mahomes isn’t happy with himself after taking out Rashee Rice during last week’s win over the Chargers. The Chiefs quarterback crashed into Rice as he was trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception during the first quarter, bending the wide receiver’s right knee the wrong way in what the team at the time feared was a torn ACL.
“I didn’t notice it in the moment, I more worried about trying to get the ball,” Mahomes said during a press conference on Thursday. “But obviously, was just trying to make a play and it happens whenever you’re trying to make tackles.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta.AP
“I mean, when I saw the replay, I felt like s–t that I hit Rashee. I think that’s pretty much all — I mean, I wasn’t worried about myself. I was worried about, hopefully, his injury and hoping it wasn’t as bad as it looked because I was the one that hit him.”
Rice, 24, was carted off the field, although tests have yet to confirm whether he suffered an ACL tear.
Head coach Andy Reid told reporters Thursday that the team is waiting for swelling to go down on Rice’s knee to do additional testing.
The team placed Rice on injured reserve Thursday, taking him out for at least the next four games.
Rice had been one of the top pass-catchers in the NFL through the first three weeks with 24 receptions for 288 yards with two touchdowns.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) pounds his fist on the ground after an injury in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Chiefs will turn to tight end Travis Kelce, rookie receiver Xavier Worthy and a combination of Justin Watson, Skyy Moore and JuJu Smith-Schuster, among others, in the passing game while Rice is out.
“Obviously, Rashee is a huge part of the game plan, you have to throw guys in there and make that timing up,” Mahomes told reporters. “Coach tries to get that done in practice. He tries to throw guys in certain situations. But obviously, there’s limited reps. But I thought the guys did a great job of accepting the challenge and being in there in those moments.
“But coach Reid does a great job of getting guys ready to go throughout a week of game plan. And we had an extra day this week, so I’m sure guys will be ready to go out there and play some great football.”
