Chiefs’ Rashee Rice received this Andy Reid compliment after career day vs. Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice posted career-highs with eight catches for 107 yards in Sunday’s 31-17 road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
And coach Andy Reid said Monday he believed the rookie’s ascent was the result of his own hard work.
“He’s been getting better every week,” Reid said. “And he’s working to be more ‘Patrick-friendly.’”
Reid said a lot goes into that “Patrick-friendly” descriptor, referring to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He said Rice has been willing to fit his own game into the Chiefs’ offense, while also taking lots of interest in how his QB sees things.
Specifically, Reid has said he’s seen Rice frequently go over to Mahomes during practice downtime (when special-teams drills are taking place) to get extra reps.
“They talk through things, and then they run routes: ‘This is the look where I’m seeing you on this route against this coverage.’ And they spend time with each other there,” Reid said. “And then off the field, likewise, for meetings — they keep an open communication there. So it’s something that is needed, especially with a young receiver.”
All of that time with Mahomes, Reid said, has only helped Rice continue to grow.
“He’s done a nice job of being open that way and listening and kind of deciphering what defenses work with what routes and how to manipulate that,” Reid said. “And Kels (tight end Travis Kelce) has been a good example for him and has had some good input there, too.”
Rice is continuing to see steady playing time. He was in for 67% of the offensive snaps against the Raiders, marking the fifth straight game he’d hit the 55% mark or higher.
In addition, Rice’s 44 catches and 527 yards this season both rank sixth among NFL rookie receivers.
“I think they (coaches and Mahomes) are showing a lot more confidence in me,” Rice said after the game, “but I feel like that starts in practice. It doesn’t just start with me making big plays in the game.”
