Chiefs WR Rashee Rice took a play out of Travis Kelce's playbook in Week 1 vs. Ravens

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Sep 11, 2024 12:01 PM EDT

Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) runs the ball as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0) defends during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images — Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Kansas City Chiefs second-year WR Rashee Rice took a play out of Travis Kelce's playbook during the team's Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Rice was the team's leading receiver with seven receptions on nine targets for 103 yards receiving. He averaged the second-highest yards per route run in the NFL during Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Patrick Mahomes told everyone that we're getting a better version of Rice in 2024, and that seems to have held true after just a single game.

Toward the end of the first quarter, Rice had a slick 19-yard gain against Ravens LB Roquan Smith in coverage.

KC going five-wide early in the football game and forcing Roquan Smith into a lot of space against Power-Slot Rashee Rice. Great return route and Mahomes delivers the ball in stride.

BTW Odafe Oweh is going to be a problem pic.twitter.com/wgqUEiHXW1
— Daniel Harms (@InHarmsWay19) September 6, 2024

This play came up during the latest episode of New Heights, with Jason Kelce lauding the route-running prowess of Rashee Rice.

Rashee Rice is learning from the best tight end in the game

"That route he ran on Roquan (Smith)," Jason told Travis. "I don't know if that's like, it was like, almost like a fake, like little out and then came back in."

Well, there's a reason that Jason liked the route. It's because it's one that he's seen his brother do over two dozen times during his NFL career in Kansas City.

"Yeah, he can do whatever he wants on that play," Travis told Jason. "I know that play very well."

Rice appears to be learning from the best of the best in Travis Kelce when it comes to improvising on option routes and finding space against zone coverage.

"(It's a) true option route," Travis continued. "Gave him the business. Realized he was Cover 4 and that the MIKE linebacker is in quite a bind."

When Jason questioned why Rice took the inside leverage, Travis described his thinking on the play.

"But you know that's the option of it, right? You know where he's vulnerable, and you know how much space (there is)," Travis explained. "You realize the route concepts and how the defense has to relate to them."

People are looking at the recently re-signed Noah Gray and draft picks like Jared Wiley as replacements for Travis Kelce down the line. The reality is that Rice actually might be the guy who can supplant the future Hall of Famer as he's in the twilight of his NFL career. He's already taking one play out of Kelce's playbook with the option route, maybe there is more to come in his future.

"I'm just happy that Rashee (Rice) is seeing the field like he's seeing right now," Travis concluded. "He is really playing faster with his mind this year, so he can really catch the ball, get vertical, and split guys. He owned the middle of the field the entire day. And, man, I couldn't be happier for that guy to have a 100-yard game. And hopefully, we can keep this thing rolling and keep using them as he takes over the middle of the field, and sure enough, all over the field."