Not many believed Rashee Rice to come out of the legal troubles this year, unscathed, without receiving a ban. But the wideout blitzed away from the face of it and into the preseason camp. And now, he is in contention to be the man receiving Patrick Mahomes’ darting throws.

According to the Chiefs HC Andy Reid, “there were a couple of things” worth noticing about Rice from this preseason. First? “The conditioning part of it and how fast you have to play every play. I thought his feel for space was another.” The second is his experience, as Reid noted, “He had a great feel for what the coaches and Patrick are looking for.” 

In simple terms, Reid wanted to say ‘My wideout’s going to complement my signal-caller well‘. And that’s ideally what you want to hear. But that was not the problem in the rookie year, either. In fact, Rice had an above-average, good, 2023 season. He caught 79 catches for 938 yards and 7 TDs. Not to forget, the Super Bowl LVIII ring. So, to see these progressive improvements in year 2 is not a shocker. On the contrary, had it been anything less, then the Chiefs Kingdom would have been concerned.

The highs of his rookie season? They were undeniable. But the lows? Well, they came fast, and they hit hard. The offseason took a sharp turn when he was slapped with aggravated assault charges after a high-speed crash in Dallas back in March. Imagine going 119 mph before colliding and leaving seven people injured. Not exactly a touchdown moment. As if that wasn’t enough, he found himself under investigation for a nightclub incident too, though no charges stuck. When camp rolled around in August, Rashee Rice played it cool, telling the media his “team is handling” the legal matters.

Props to that “team” for keeping his season alive. NFL VP Brian McCarthy chimed in, reassuring fans that Rashee wouldn’t be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list unless the case took a serious turn. That would’ve been a brutal blow to his second season as a pro. But fortunately, he wasn’t tackling this challenge alone. Rashee had not just legal backup but that of his peers—and most importantly, Patrick Mahomes himself.

Patrick Mahomes did not leave Rashee Rice in the dark!

Yes! That’s right. Pat is not only the seasoned pro in the center, but he knows the gravitas of these legal matters better than most. Why? His dad Pat Sr.’s three DUIs have made him well-versed in the subject, unfortunately. So, he knows how much media attention comes with it. And constant eyes on you. So, how could Patrick leave his receiver hanging when Rashee Rice was caught amidst all the chaos?

And he sure didn’t! During media day, Rice shared, “He’s [Patrick] been very important. He’s there for me whenever I need him on or off the field, only a call away. And he’s always going to pick up my call, so I got him.” Basic support? Maybe. But those little efforts add up, and in Rice’s case, they’re proving more than fruitful. To be fair, Pat’s a family man with his own reasons to stay focused. But that’s what Reid’s Kansas City team is built on—grit, passion, and an unbreakable bond. Togetherness, whether on the gridiron or off it. It’s a ride-or-die mentality. The good thing? It is working its magic.

Now, they need it more than ever as the fight is on to complete the 3-peat in 2024. And if Andy Reid’s words are anything to go by, Rashee Rice is in a good place to become the pass-catcher Mahomes needs. At the end of the day, it’ll come down to mental fortitude. Can Rice shake off the past few months and lock in on that one collective goal? We’ll find out soon enough against the Ravens in Week 1.