KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the Kansas City Chiefs continue to find rhythm in their offense midway through the 2025 season, one of the most intriguing storylines involves wide receiver Rashee Rice and his gradual return to a full workload. After a limited start to the year due to injury recovery and conditioning, Rice’s snap count has become a carefully managed balancing act — one that head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy are approaching with precision and patience.

On Thursday, both Reid and Nagy addressed Rice’s role moving forward, emphasizing that the second-year receiver’s playing time is on schedule and trending in the right direction. In Week 8, Rice logged roughly 41 percent of the team’s offensive snaps — almost exactly what the coaching staff had planned.

“Yeah, so we set out to get him (Rashee Rice) to 40% or around that area,” Reid said. “And it came out to 41%, the way it worked out. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter, and he probably wanted to. But I think if you increase it from there, he came out feeling good. That was a positive, and now he gets another week of practice under his belt, and I think he can keep his numbers going up.”

For Reid, whose careful player management has been a hallmark throughout his career, the gradual progression reflects a long-term mindset. It’s not just about maximizing Rice’s production in October — it’s about ensuring he’s fully ready when the Chiefs need him most down the stretch.

A Gradual Build Toward Full Strength

Rice’s journey back into a central offensive role comes after a period of physical recovery and recalibration. Following an offseason that included surgery and conditioning adjustments, the young receiver spent the early portion of the season ramping up his workload in practice. Week 8 represented his most active involvement yet, a sign that his body is responding well to the gradual build-up.

“Each week he’s adding a little more to his plate,” Reid added. “That’s what you want — steady progress, no setbacks. He’s working hard in the classroom and on the field, and we’re seeing that show up in his play.”

The Chiefs’ offense, while still among the league’s most efficient, has been searching for steady production at the wide receiver position beyond tight end Travis Kelce. Rice’s combination of quickness, physicality, and yards-after-catch ability gives Kansas City a dynamic option in the intermediate zones — the same areas where the unit has missed consistency since the departure of Tyreek Hill.

Matt Nagy’s Perspective: Balance and Readiness

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy echoed Reid’s measured tone but hinted that Rice’s snap count could see a slight uptick in Week 9, depending on how the game unfolds.

“I feel like it’ll be very similar, if not more,” Nagy said. “We’ll give him as much as he can and wants to go. I think more of it than anything is just, it’s a lot to come back in and play right away and play 60 snaps. So, we’ll have a feel on how the game goes. But as much as we can get him in and keep him in, we will do that.”

Nagy’s words reflect a key element of the Chiefs’ offensive philosophy: adaptability. While some players can handle immediate full workloads after returning from injury, others benefit from incremental progress. The staff believes Rice fits the latter group — a young player whose confidence and conditioning will peak through repetition, not overload.

Rice’s Mindset: “Everybody Gotta Eat”

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Rice’s resurgence isn’t just his growing impact on the field, but his influence in the locker room. After the Chiefs’ Week 7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Rice delivered a message that quickly became a rallying cry for the offense: “Everybody gotta eat.”

The phrase encapsulates the Chiefs’ offensive identity under Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes — an egalitarian attack where every receiver, tight end, and back has an opportunity to contribute. For Rice, that mindset isn’t about targets or personal stats — it’s about team rhythm.

“That’s just how I see it,” Rice said after that win. “When everyone’s involved, we’re dangerous. You never know who it’s going to be, and that keeps defenses guessing.”

Mahomes has spoken highly of Rice’s energy and selflessness, calling him “a spark” in recent interviews. “He’s coming along really well,” Mahomes said earlier this week. “You can tell his confidence is back. We’re building that chemistry again, and I know as he gets more reps, that’ll only grow.”

The Bigger Picture

For the Chiefs, Rice’s continued progression could be one of the keys to unlocking their offense’s full potential heading into the second half of the season. Kansas City’s passing game remains potent but has relied heavily on Kelce’s consistency. Having a reliable secondary target like Rice opens up the field for creative route combinations and keeps defenses from zeroing in on Mahomes’ primary weapon.

Reid and Nagy’s approach — cautious, calculated, and collaborative — ensures that Rice’s return won’t come at the expense of his long-term health or development. Each week is a step closer to full capacity, and the staff’s confidence in his trajectory is evident.

“It’s going to take time for Rice to get his legs under him and play a full helping of snaps,” Nagy reiterated. “If we can continue to give him a little more each week, there’s no reason he can’t be ready for a full workload soon.”

As Kansas City prepares for another pivotal matchup in Week 9, the balance between patience and progress remains key. For Rashee Rice, the road back isn’t just about returning to form — it’s about fitting perfectly into an offense that thrives when, as he put it best, “everybody gotta eat.”