According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Rice was given a six-game suspension by the league for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Rice accepted the suspension and voided a Sept. 30 hearing that was set to be moderated by former federal judge Sue L. Robinson in the NFL’s New York City headquarters, the report stated.
Wednesday afternoon, the league officially announced the suspension, which it said began immediately.
The suspension comes after the 25-year-old pled guilty to two third-degree felony charges on July 17.
Rice’s guilty plea was for a collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway, causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time that can be served during those five years.
Rice and his former SMU teammate, Theodore Knox, were racing sports cars on a Dallas freeway in April 2024 when they crashed, causing a chain-reaction involving six cars.
Authorities said the crash happened shortly after 6 p.m. on March 30, 2024, during rush hour traffic as Rice drove a 2020 Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119 mph.
As part of Rice’s plea agreement, he is required to pay restitution to the victims for medical expenses.
The restitution totaled more than $115,000, according to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
Following the sentencing, Rice’s lawyer, Royce West, released a statement on behalf of the Chiefs’ wideout.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas. There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole,” said Rice. “I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safely and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property.”
“I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”
Rice will miss the first six games of the Chiefs’ season, including a Week 1 trip to Brazil to play the Los Angeles Chargers and a Week 2 Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rice hasn’t played for the Chiefs since Week 4 of the 2024 season, when he tore ligaments in his knee during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before his injury, Rice was the focal point of Kansas City’s offense. In the first three games, Rice totaled 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
The SMU product that Kansas City drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft will be eligible to return to the field in Week 7 for the Chiefs’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
On Tuesday, the Chiefs cut their roster down to 53 players and, in an unusual move, kept eight wide receivers on the roster, likely as a contingency plan for Rice being suspended.
Without Rice for the first six weeks, the Chiefs will move forward with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Tyquan Thornton, Juju Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio and Jason Brownlee.
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