Mahomes and Rice practice in full after Week 1 win

After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Rice “tweaked” his hamstring, seemingly downplaying the severity of his injury. It’s possible Silver is speculating on how long Rice could be out given what we know about soft-tissue injuries. Rice didn’t return to the game on Sunday against the Raiders, but he could be seen working out on the sideline at various times and was also on the exercise bike. With the Chiefs now entering their bye week, it’s possible we won’t have more clarity on Rice’s potential absence until they return to prepare for Week 6 against the Chargers. We will check back in with any updates as the team provides them.

Mahomes was under duress throughout this one. He took multiple hits and was sacked twice, but managed to come up with just enough plays to pull off the road win against a spry Raiders team. Mahomes threw his first touchdown of the day in the first quarter, finding Tyquan Thornton for a two-yard score, then connected with Thornton again in the fourth quarter for an eight-yard touchdown near the back of the end zone. Mahomes’ longest play of the game also went to Thornton, when the speedster broke free down the left sideline to make a 55-yard catch. Unfortunately, Thornton exited the game with a gruesome ankle injury after the play, but he did set up Kenneth Walker for a two-yard touchdown run on the ensuing play. Mahomes and the Chiefs are now 4-0 as they enter their Week 5 bye week. They’ll play host to the Chargers, who are 0-4 when they return in Week 6.

The Chiefs aren’t formally ruling him out just yet, but Rice’s day is as good as done with this latest update. He continues to go through tests on the hamstring he injured in the first quarter of Sunday’s game and will likely be ruled out in the near future. If his day is done, Rice will finish with zero receptions on zero targets in just six offensive snaps.

This news comes from the team’s X account. Rice exited in the first quarter of Sunday’s game and eventually made his way to the locker room after initially refusing to leave the field. CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reported that Rice was noticeably frustrated on the sideline, which isn’t an encouraging sign as far as his return for this game is concerned.

It’s hard to tell what may have happened here, but Rice appeared to land awkwardly on his left foot after making a catch on a play that would be overturned by a penalty. Rice appeared to be grabbing at the back of his leg and immediately made his way to the sideline. We will provide an update when we receive one.

Rice’s seven receptions were easily a new season best, though he’s now cleared 80 yards in back-to-back contests. Rice’s nine targets were no joke on a day where Patrick Mahomes was limited to 24 attempts as the Chiefs ran just 49 plays. Rice was also the intended target on Mahomes’ “interception,” which in reality was a ball Rice batted into the air. Not good, but neither was the pass. It was behind the wideout, who was laying on the ground. We doubt Mahomes holds it against him. Rice will remain a solid WR2 for Week 4 in Vegas.

With the Dolphins playing ball-control offense, the Chiefs were limited to just 49 total plays, but Mahomes and company compensated with extreme efficiency. That included long catch-and-run gains to Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice, with Mahomes also finding the former for an end zone score. Mahomes has now posted multiple passing scores in each of his first three starts. It took him seven games to accomplish that feat last year. There was a scary moment when Mahomes got “body weighted” by DL Chop Robinson, but Mahomes shook it off as Robinson was flagged for roughing. Currently averaging 8.3 yards per attempt after that number was 7.1 a year ago, Mahomes is looking at home in this “new look” Chiefs attack once again coordinated by Eric Bieniemy. He has another soft Week 4 matchup in the Raiders before the Chiefs head on early-season bye.

An interesting development from this one were the 10 targets filtered to running back Kenneth Walker, who gained emphasis through the air in the short areas of the field typically accounted for by Rice and tight end Travis Kelce. The Colts also utilized elevated rates of man coverage until the departure of cornerback Charvarius Ward, against which Rice has clear negative splits. He did break free for a 31-yard gain, one of two Mahomes completions to go for more than 30 yards. Rice remains a volume-driven WR2 with clear WR3 downside, in an offense now more intent on featuring the backfield. He remains a touchdown-dependent WR2 against the Dolphins in Week 3.

Mahomes looked much more like himself against the Colts than he did against the Broncos in Week 1, with his typical mobility in the pocket on full display as he extended plays. He even escaped the pocket twice to pick up crucial first downs with his legs in key situations, looking closer to how he did before tearing his ACL in 2025. Mahomes managed to complete two passes greater than 30 yards, one to Tyquan Thornton and one to Rashee Rice, an area of his game that he has not excelled in over the previous two seasons. Even so, it took the Chiefs two possessions in overtime to finally sneak by the tenacious Colts, moving to a 2-0 record ahead of a road date with the Dolphins in Week 3. Mahomes has returned to weekly QB1 status, although the team could look to continue its dominance on the ground against a week opponent.

Mahomes ran the ball seven times for 23 yards and one touchdown last week before practicing in full this week. Both factors are encouraging. The Chiefs’ star quarterback warrants QB1 treatment against the Colts in Week 2.