Just five months ago, Kyren Lacy was back home in Thibodaux, Louisiana, handing out turkeys to families in need. It was LSU’s bye week, and instead of lying low, he partnered with a local nonprofit to distribute over 100 meals. He tossed footballs with kids. Took photos. Made time. It wasn’t performative. Lacy knew what it meant to grow up in that part of Louisiana, and for a moment, it looked like he was on the verge of giving back in more ways than one.

A month later, the LSU’s star WR’s life took a tragic turn when a high-speed incident on Louisiana Highway 20 led to a fatal crash, resulting in the death of 78-year-old Herman Hall. Authorities claimed that it was due to Lacy’s reckless driving that led to the collision, and the WR fled the scene without rendering aid. Right after all that went down, Lacy was scheduled for a grand jury hearing related to that crash in April 2025. However, just a couple of days before the hearing, the young WR reportedly took his own life on April 12, 2024.

Right after his death, the football world, including Russell Wilson, Emmanuel Acho, and others, mourned his loss. And now, the Chiefs‘ WR Rashee Rice took to his official Instagram handle on Monday and shared a story on faith after Lacy’s tragic demise. “Some athletes are smiling in public… but fighting in silence. And too many don’t make it through.” Rice shared a post in his story. While he didn’t name anyone, the timing of the post came just days after Kyren Lacy’s tragic passing, making it feel less like a generic quote and more like a quiet tribute to a fellow athlete who never got to see his NFL dream come true.

The parallels are impossible to ignore. Both young wide receivers. Both with Louisiana roots. Both forced to confront consequences born from off-field collisions. One now faces a long road back. The other never got the chance. So when Rice shared that quiet tribute, it read as a moment of reflection.

For Rice, the Chiefs’ WR shared a message along with that post in his story, writing, “But God thank you for another blessed day 💯 we gon (gonna) get thru (through) everything…” Let’s just say it’s understandable for Rice. Back in March 2024, the WR was involved in a car crash with former SMU teammate Theodore Knox at Central Expressway in Dallas, which ended in a multi-car wreck that injured four people.

However, the WR later stated that he takes “full responsibility” for his part in the collision. Besides, his attorney also confirmed that Rashee Rice is “cooperating with local authorities and will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly.” The catch? Well, the case is still pending in court, which could affect his return for the 2025 season. To make it more tense, the WR is coming after a knee injury as well.

Will Rashee Rice return for the next season?

Imagine being 24, on the cusp of NFL stardom, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, your quarterback accidentally crashes into your knee, sidelining you for the season. That’s exactly what happened to Rashee Rice during a Week 4 game against the Chargers. A few days later, the 24-year-old wideout underwent surgery to repair his LCL and hamstring. Sure, he was expected to make a full recovery. But nope. Rice had to miss out on the remainder of the season.

However, a month ago, Jeff Mueller, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, gave an update on Rice’s recovery. “Here is what we call a course-correct. I’ve previously said to Sell. Rashee Rice is putting in WORK to be ready for the 2025 season coming off of LCL, PLC, and hamstring surgeries. Still has 6 months until Wk1 (suspension still pending though). Message received. Buy,” he noted.

Cut to the present, and looks like the Chiefs are finally getting a promising update on Rashee’s injury. Not a long while ago, Rice took to his official IG handle and revealed that he now can work on his route running. “They just cleared the kid for the route tree!” wrote Rice in the caption. “Thank you to the man up above!” 

Well, Rice’s ability to run the route is definitely a great update for the Chiefs, considering the team’s O-line struggled in the last season—not to mention Hollywood Brown’s injury as well. To make it more obvious, during the league meetings in Florida, Andy Reid also confirmed Rashee Rice’s speedy recovery. “He’s on track to be ready,” the HC said earlier this month. “We’ll see. He’s working his tail off right now, I know.”

Before the injury hit, Rice had already snagged 24 catches for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns—the guy was cooking. Now with his return on the horizon for Year 3, let’s just say the Chiefs’ wide receiver room is about to get a serious glow-up.