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Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Wide receiver Rashee Rice left the Kansas City Chiefs‘ game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a knee injury in the first quarter and will not return.
Rice injured his right knee after colliding with quarterback Patrick Mahomes while trying to recover a Chargers fumble during an interception return. Both of Rice’s knees took an impact in his collision with Mahomes, and the receiver’s right knee appeared to hyperextend.
“It’s not good,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told CBS at halftime when asked about the severity of Rice’s injury.
Rice was helped off the field and had his knee examined by medical personnel on the sideline before being taken to the locker room on a cart.
He entered Week 4 leading the league in catches with 24 and second in yards with 288.
Mahomes overthrew Travis Kelce at midfield on the Chiefs’ second drive, and Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton picked him off and returned it 29 yards with 6:06 to play. Rice caught Fulton from behind at the Chiefs’ 20 and punched the ball loose for a fumble, but Mahomes hit Rice’s legs while the star quarterback ducked down to attempt a tackle on Fulton.
Chiefs center Creed Humphrey recovered the fumble, but video review allowed the Chargers to retain possession.
Rice is awaiting trial on several charges after he allegedly caused a high-speed crash involving multiple cars last March on a freeway in Texas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.