The 2026 offseason has not been kind to Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice. Having first been embroiled in a civil lawsuit that alleged the 26-year old assaulted his former girlfriend and father of his children Dacoda Jones back in February, May 19 saw Rice be forced to serve 30 days in jail after breaking his probation.
And if that was not enough, it appears that the Philly native will also see himself be sidelined for the next two months, which will include his month in jail.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that just a week prior to Rice’s failed marijuana test that resulted in his imprisonment, the Chiefs wideout underwent a surgery on his right knee that will see him not return to action until training camp.
Rashee Rice Had Surgery One Week Before Testing Positive
“One week before being ordered to serve 30 days in jail, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice underwent a clean-up surgery on his right knee to remove loose debris that was causing inflammation and now is expected to sideline him two months, league sources told ESPN.” Schefter reported on May 19.
Perhaps one silver lining in what has been a very grey cloud for Rice over the past couple of years is that hopefully this surgery should eliminate any lingering knee issues for him heading into training camp and the regular season.
Indeed, one can potentially draw a causal link between Rice facing surgery and testing positive for marijuana just a week later, implying that it could potentially have been been used by the former second round draft pick as pain relief during his immediate recovery.
What Will the Future Look Like For Rice?
Barring any further legal complications and injury setbacks, Rice will likely maintain his status as WR1 in Kansas City in 2026.
A full, healthy season with the Chiefs could assuage many of the possible questions and worries teams around the league – including KC – may have about him, especially if the team returns to their long-held spot atop the AFC.
However, all of the off-the-field drama will almost certainly end up hurting the TCU alum when it comes to contract time next March, with Rice set to be a free agent come the end of the season.
The Chiefs will have to think long and hard whether they are willing to make a long-term commitment to Rice, given all the problems he has posed for them over the past two years. And if they are not planning to extend him, he will have to convince at least one team in the NFL that he is worthy of an expensive, multi-year deal.
Something that, given his current situation, could be difficult to accomplish.
Rashee Rice Undergoes Clean-Up Surgery, Set to Miss Two Months