Yet again, Rashee Rice is in the news for the wrong reasons. The constantly troubled Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver was slapped with a damning lawsuit this week by his ex-girlfriend, who made concerning claims regarding a “horrific pattern of abuse” on part of the NFL player.
Given that Rice had already been suspended by the NFL for another incident, this one has the potential to put his future in the league in jeopardy. The NFL still has to do its own investigation, so Patrick Mahomes might not know for a while if his No. 1 wide receiver will be on the field with him when then 2026 season begins.
Jalen Royals could get chance to shine if Rashee Rice misses games in 2026
The thought of Rice missing games in 2026 has put the Chiefs’ wide receiver room under the microscope. Xavier Worthy hasn’t developed into a great player yet, and the rest of the wideouts are role-playing veterans. But a name that had somewhat been forgotten has popped up again: Jalen Royals.
By most accounts, Royals was making impressive plays during his first training camp with Kansas City. Coming in as a 4th round rookie in 2025, with Rice serving a six-game suspension, Royals was expected to contribute immediately. Unfortunately, knee tendinitis sidelined Royals for the first few games of his rookie season, and he was barely heard from after that.
Even when he got healthy, Andy Reid and the coaching staff put him on the field for just 35 snaps before the team was eliminated from postseason contention. Given that the Chiefs needed more playmaking on offense, it was odd that Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t use Royals at all.
Whether Rice is available for the Chiefs in 2026 or not, Royals should get a much better chance at contributing in his second season. Reid knows his offense needs to change, and new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy should give Royals a clean slate to start their relationship. It’s way too early to give up on the 4th round wideout, and Kansas City may need him now more than ever given Rice’s situation.