The Kansas City Chiefs may be out of the 2025 playoffs, but they still have three games left on the calendar, and there was injury news on star wide receiver Rashee Rice and several others ahead of the Week 16 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
Rice did not practice for the second straight day on December 18, as he has been battling a concussion. Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick relayed the key playmaker’s practice status, along with injury updates on several others.
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (elbow), swing tackle Jaylon Moore (knee), linebacker Leo Chenal (shoulder), and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) all did not practice on Thursday. With the Chiefs eliminated from the postseason, all five — including Rice — are very much in danger of missing Week 16.
2025 was always going to be a mixed year for Rice, considering his off-the-field mistakes took away a large chunk of it from the get-go. Since then, the Chiefs’ top wideout has lived up to expectations most weeks, although there have been one or two letdowns.
Rice has also had an issue with important drops in recent games, which unfortunately contributed to a couple of their more devastating losses.
Still, Rice has shown massive potential since returning from his suspension. He’s averaged 6.6 receptions per game and 71.4 yards per game in 2025, which are pretty similar to his 2024 numbers before his injury.
If, for some reason, the Chiefs were to shut down Rice for the remainder of the 2025 season, he’d finish with 53 catches for 571 yards and 6 total touchdowns over 8 games of action.
Trent McDuffie Classified as ‘Limited’ as Chiefs Share Injury News Ahead of Week 16 vs. Titans
GettyKansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie practiced on Thursday of Week 16.
As for the good news, Derrick also noted that there was “a surprise with Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie (knee) on the field for stretch [on] Thursday.”
Later, the Chiefs announced that McDuffie was officially “limited” in the practice, as was superstar defensive lineman Chris Jones.
Kansas City has made it very clear that they have no interest in tanking for a better draft pick, but they also have no reason to rush injured stars back onto the field. In fact, it’d be irresponsible to do such a thing with the playoffs out of reach.
Jones should play in Week 16, but McDuffie’s status is still unclear. The All-Pro defensive back has been dealing with a knee injury, and after what happened to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, there’s no reason to tempt fate on one of the Chiefs’ most important defenders.
Along with Rice and all the players listed above, veteran defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (illness) did not practice on December 18.
Rashee Rice’s New Injury Is Yet Another Sign That This Wasn’t the Chiefs’ Year
It’s been one of those years for Kansas City. In the past, a lot has gone in the Chiefs’ favor, especially late in one-score games.
This year, all that good fortune has seemingly reversed, as KC has lost several one-score outings.
Coupled with Rice’s suspension news and all the injuries throughout, this just hasn’t been the Chiefs’ season, and the Week 16 injury report is the perfect reminder of that.
Not only is Mahomes done for the year, but Rice and Thornton have concussions, McDuffie and Jones are banged up, and several more starters like Chenal, Taylor, Josh Simmons, and Trey Smith have been sidelined in recent weeks, among others.
Sometimes, fate just isn’t on your side. Clearly, that’s the case for KC in 2025.
Rashee Rice Update Headlines Chiefs’ Latest Week 16 Injury News