The rise and fall of Rashee Rice has rocked the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite the team’s support through his offseason struggles, head coach Andy Reid recently had to defend the team’s decision to select Rice.

Rice’s on-field performance has been impressive. In his rookie year, the SMU graduate caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming a reliable target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. However, trouble began after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory.

On March 30, Rice was involved in a traffic accident in Dallas, injuring six people and damaging multiple cars. Earlier in March, a photographer accused him of assault outside a Dallas nightclub. Recently, it emerged that Rice was involved in a shooting incident against an SMU basketball player’s car.

These incidents have forced the Chiefs to address numerous questions about Rice. At a press conference, Reid avoided directly addressing whether the team was aware of Rice’s off-field issues, stating, “We knew enough to draft him and then we just went with the process.”

Despite Rice’s career not being immediately at risk, his future is uncertain. He faces possible suspension for the traffic incident, with potential penalties ranging from four to eight games. The Chiefs have already prepared for his absence by adding Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy to their roster.

If Rice’s absence is not felt, his contract could face more scrutiny, especially if his off-field problems persist.