Travis Kelce Shares Insights on How Rashee Rice Overcame Rookie Challenges…
In the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent victory over the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round, rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice continued to validate the team’s decision to draft him. Selected as the 55th overall pick in the last year’s NFL Draft, Rice has consistently demonstrated his value throughout his debut season, impressing with his growing strength and impact on the field.
Even in the challenging conditions of the playoffs, where the Chiefs opted for a pass-heavy strategy against Miami, Rice stood out. He matched his season-high target count with 12, successfully converting eight of them into 130 yards and a touchdown. As the leading pass-catcher for Kansas City that night, Rice’s performance led quarterback Patrick Mahomes to dismiss any concerns about the notorious ‘rookie wall’ affecting him.
On a recent episode of the New Heights podcast featuring Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce commended Rice’s recent stellar play. Drawing from his own rookie season experience over a decade ago, Kelce highlighted the difficulty of simultaneously learning and performing in the NFL.
Kelce stated, “He’s playing with a lot of confidence, man, and making some huge plays for us. Early on, you just want to see a guy make strides and have confidence in playing fast, so you don’t want to throw too much at him.” Reflecting on his own rookie year, Kelce likened the learning process to mastering a new language while also needing to feel confident against the opposing defense. He emphasized that the initial weeks of the season can feel chaotic for a rookie.
Throughout his inaugural regular season, Rice emerged as the Chiefs’ most productive wide receiver, trailing only the future Hall of Fame tight end in targets, receptions, and yards. Despite being behind All-Pro players like CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown in yards after the catch league-wide, Rice led the Chiefs in touchdowns and yards per target.
While Rice consistently produced, his role became more significant as the season progressed. A breakout performance in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders marked a turning point, with double-digit targets and his first game with 100 or more receiving yards. According to Kelce, the spike in Rice’s numbers results from effective coaching and Rice’s understanding of the offensive system.
Kelce said, “I think Coach (Andy) Reid and Coach (Matt) Nagy and the offensive staff have done a great job of just kind of, like, slowly building on the things we have in the offense for him.” Kelce credited Rice for understanding the coaching philosophy and Mahomes’ preferences, noting that he is evolving into a formidable player.
Despite Rice’s impressive performance, Kelce highlighted areas for improvement, such as facing press-man coverage and refining his skills in different zones. The Chiefs appear focused on helping Rice grow in these aspects. However, if Rice’s current level of play continues in the playoffs, the Chiefs are optimistic about their prospects. Rice’s standout performance in the recent game did not go unnoticed by Kelce, emphasizing the impact of the standout rookie.
Mahomes Plays On: Helmet Holds Up Despite Damage in Frigid Wild-Card Game…
Patrick Mahomes’ helmet sustained damage during the wild-card game against the Miami Dolphins, prompting the helmet company to assert that, while it was not an ideal situation, the helmet effectively fulfilled its protective function for Mahomes. In the third quarter, Mahomes, in a scramble towards the end zone, collided with Dolphins safety DeShon Elliot, resulting in a portion of the helmet shell breaking off. Despite the compromised state of the helmet, Mahomes continued to play for two more plays before officials intervened to have it replaced.
The helmet company, VICIS, acknowledged that while outer shell damage was less than ideal, their ZERO2 helmet successfully protected Mahomes during a head-to-head impact, particularly in the extreme cold temperatures experienced during the game. The company emphasized that such harsh conditions were likely to push even the most high-performing products to their limits.
Mahomes himself attributed the helmet malfunction to the extremely cold weather, expressing that he wasn’t initially aware of the issue but became informed when he returned to the huddle. The game, held on Saturday, marked the fourth-coldest in NFL history and the coldest ever at Arrowhead Stadium. Notably, the freezing temperatures had various visible impacts, such as Coach Andy Reid’s mustache freezing like an icicle and fans sharing images and videos of drinks, including beer and water, freezing during the game.
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