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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes still has to regain his mobility after knee surgery.
The Kansas City Chiefs were hit with a major setback when Rashee Rice was sent to jail just as his rehab for a knee injury was set to start, which could prompt them to find more help at wide receiver.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested the Chiefs may need more help at wide receiver, urging the team to look into a trio of veteran pass-catchers who can help quarterback Patrick Mahomes in his comeback attempt. The uncertainty surrounding Rice — including whether he will face a potential suspension — could lead the team to make a desperate move, Knox suggested.
Chiefs Could Target Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs
In a rundown of suggested roster moves for every NFL team, Knox noted that the Chiefs decided to pass on trying to land A.J. Brown and could instead target one of three veterans — including one former Chiefs star.
“According to Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer (h/t Bleacher Report’s Doric Sam), the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t been interested in trading for A.J. Brown. However, they should look to add a receiver like Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyreek Hill, or Stefon Diggs sooner rather than later,” Knox wrote.
Knox added that the Chiefs are unsure what they will get out of Rice, who was already set to miss significant time before a probation violation triggered the start of his 30-day sentence for last year’s felony conviction after a street-racing incident.
“The Chiefs already lacked reliable receiver depth before Rashee Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail for a probation violation. Rice was already set to miss up to two months following ‘a clean-up surgery’ on his knee,” Knox wrote.
The Chiefs are looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade, but have plenty of question marks. While Rice is expected to be ready to start the season, he could face a potential suspension from the NFL for the failed drug test that prompted his jail sentence.
Mahomes is also going through rehab for the torn ACL that cut short his 2025 season. He appears to be on track to start the season as well, but the team has yet to offer a definitive timeline.
Tyreek Hill Could Return to Kansas City
Many insiders have predicted that Hill, who was cut loose by the Miami Dolphins after suffering a major knee injury, could find his way back to Kansas City. Chiefs insider Nate Taylor of ESPN said in a radio appearance in April that Hill planned to play this season after completing rehab, and that the Chiefs were the most likely destination.
“We know that Tyreek is planning to play this upcoming season,” Taylor said. “You’re going to get more updates on his health, given his rehab. We know he’s a diligent worker, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I don’t want to be hyperbolic or over the top, but I think there’s like more than a 50 percent chance that he’s in a Chiefs uniform. I will put it at like 55 percent, maybe even 60.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty