Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes reveals what he loves most about second-year WR Rashee Rice
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is off to quite the start during the 2024 NFL season. Through three weeks, Rice leads the NFL in receptions with 24 and he has more yards after the catch than some team's top receivers have total yards. He's one of just three receivers in the league right now with multiple […]
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is off to quite the start during the 2024 NFL season.
Through three weeks, Rice leads the NFL in receptions with 24 and he has more yards after the catch than some team's top receivers have total yards. He's one of just three receivers in the league right now with multiple 100-yard receiving games alongside Seahawks WR DK Metcalf and Texans WR Nico Collins. If Rice keeps his current pace, he'll finish with over 170 receptions for over 1600 yards and 11 touchdowns, good for the largest receiving yards season in franchise history.
There's no denying that Rice has looked more comfortable in the offense in Year 2 compared to his rookie season. A lot of that is because of how he's attacked learning the playbook, schemes, and concepts in Andy Reid's offense.
"Yeah, he's learned a ton," Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said of Rice. "He doesn't make the same mistakes. I always say that, but it's important, because I mean, it's not always the truth, and he learns from his mistakes, and he doesn't make the same mistake twice."
Beyond attacking the playbook, the difference in Rice in 2024 is a trait that can't necessarily be measured directly. Mahomes says that he loves Rice's competitive drive more than anything else and that it has a tangible impact on the rest of the team. He likened it to what teammates see from Isiah Pacheco when he pops up off the turf after taking a big hit.
"At the end of the day, what I love about Rashee (Rice) more than anything is he plays extremely hard every single snap," Mahomes said. "And that's something that can't be taught. You have to have this mentality that you want to compete and win. And so it might not always be perfect. I mean, it might not always be the perfect route or the perfect way that he read the coverage, but he plays hard so that when you give him the football, he's going to run and get whatever is there. And it gives energy. Kind of like when Pop (Isiah Pacheco) runs the football, and gives energy to the whole team because of how hard and competitive he's playing out there."
With Pacheco slated to be on injured reserve for at least 6-8 weeks, Rice stepping into the role of energy-giver is a perfect solution to keep this offense rolling. He's getting and winning his one-on-one matchups and getting some hard-earned yards in a tough part of the field. Any motivation those plays provide to the rest of the team is icing on the cake.
Chiefs receiver goes to bat for Patrick Mahomes after QB’s painful admission following win over Falcons
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is riding with Patrick Mahomes on this one.
