Patrick Mahomes Leads Chiefs Without Suspended Rashee Rice in Brazil Opener

The Kansas City Chiefs will begin their 2025 NFL season opener in São Paulo, Brazil, without key wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is serving a six-game suspension due to felony charges from a high-speed crash. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledged Rice's absence as a significant loss but emphasized that the team has prepared extensively during the offseason by adding depth and acquiring new receivers to fill the void. The Chiefs will rely on a committee including Tyquan Thornton, Xavier Worthy, Jason Brownlee, and an expanded role for tight end Robert Tonyan to maintain offensive versatility. Rookie Jalen Royals, dealing with knee tendinitis, will also miss the opener, further testing the Chiefs' depth. Head coach Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach have proactively built the roster to avoid the offensive struggles seen last season when injuries sidelined Rice and other key players. Despite the challenges, Mahomes remains confident that multiple players will step up to compensate for Rice's absence until his expected return in Week 7.