Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is set to undergo surgery to repair the LCL in his knee, sources confirmed to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Rice is not expected to return this season.
There remains a possibility that Rice avoided further ligament damage, specifically to his ACL. However, the full extent of the injury won’t be known until the surgery takes place on Tuesday, according to Rapoport. If only the LCL requires repair, Rice could face a recovery period of approximately three months.
Rice sustained the injury during Week 4, initially sparking fears of an ACL tear, though this diagnosis was never confirmed. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid mentioned last week that additional tests were delayed until the swelling in Rice’s knee subsided.
The Chiefs placed Rice on injured reserve last Thursday. The injury occurred during a friendly-fire collision with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who attempted to make a tackle after an interception in a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Entering Week 5, Rice led the Chiefs in receptions with 24 and receiving yards with 288. Following the injury, Kansas City is reportedly considering exploring trade options to strengthen their receiving corps.
