The NFL is aiming for at least a six-game suspension for Rashee Rice for violating the league's personal conduct policy, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and wants the Kansas City Chiefs receiver to start serving the suspension at the beginning of the season.
If such a punishment is agreed upon by both Rice and the league, his suspension would begin with the Chiefs' season opener on Sept. 5 against Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. Rice is still expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the league Sept. 30 in New York.
Sue L. Robinson, the former U.S. district judge who serves as the disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association, is scheduled to hear Rice's disciplinary case. The only other NFL disciplinary hearing she has presided over was Deshaun Watson's in 2022.
If the sides do not agree on terms of a suspension, Rice would be able to play the first four weeks of this season before any potential discipline is imposed for his role in a multicar crash in Dallas that left multiple people injured during the 2024 offseason.
In July, Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years' probation for his role in the crash.
Rice, 25, pleaded guilty in district court to two third-degree felony charges -- collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. He received deferred adjudication, and the case will be dismissed if he completes the probation.
Rice had 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdown catches in his 2023 rookie season. Last year, he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4 after he tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. He had 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in those four games.
In a rare scenario Tuesday, the Chiefs kept eight receivers -- Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Nikko Remigio, Jason Brownlee and rookie Jalen Royals -- on their initial 53-man roster. The Chiefs did such in case Rice agrees to a shortened suspension with the league, one that is different from what the NFL initially wanted, which was at least an eight-game punishment.
