Patrick Mahomes was open about how he felt after realizing he accidentally injured teammate Rashee Rice during last Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
“When I saw the replay, I felt like s— I hit Rashee,” Mahomes, 29, told reporters Thursday. “I mean, I wasn’t worried about me. I was worried about hopefully his injury and hopefully it wasn’t as bad as it looked because I was the one who hit him.”
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback collided with Rice, 24, after a Chargers interception. As the Chiefs offensive lineman tried to tackle the Chargers defender, Mahomes lowered his body and accidentally crashed into the knee of Rice, who was coming the other way and also trying to chase down an opponent.
Mahomes told reporters afterward that he didn’t immediately notice that he was the one whose body hit Rice’s knee, only realizing it after seeing a replay of the moment on the overhead scoreboard at SoFi Stadium.
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Rashee Rice.
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
“That’s what happens when you’re trying to make plays,” Mahomes said, as he mourned his injured teammate.
“Obviously Rashee is a big part of the game plan,” Mahomes said of his top wide receiver, who has caught two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ first four games of the season.
Kansas City placed Rice on injured reserve Thursday, according to NFL.com, amid fears the wide receiver could miss the rest of the season depending on upcoming medical evaluations.
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“I think it’s just a wait and see where we’re at,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters at Thursday’s press conference before Mahomes spoke. “For his sake, we really hope things work out for the best, but let’s see where it goes. Leave it to the doctors to see. I’m definitely not a doctor.”
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Rashee Rice and Patrick Mahomes.
Todd Kirkland/Getty
Rice was selected by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft and helped Kansas City win the 2024 Super Bowl last February, capping off a memorable rookie season in which he caught seven touchdown passes and racked up 938 receiving yards.
He later made headlines in the offseason when he was arrested on eight felony charges in connection with a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas, Texas. In a statement to PEOPLE, Rice said he takes “full responsibility” for his role in the accident.
The Chiefs are 4-0 to start the season as Kansas City chases NFL history, looking to become the first team to ever win three consecutive Super Bowls. Kansas City’s next game is Monday, October 7 against the New Orleans Saints.
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