Chiefs-Cardinals Preseason: Patrick Mahomes trusts Rashee Rice

The Kansas City Chiefs appeared centered on seeing their rookie class play deep into the sport throughout Saturday’s 38-10 preseason victory in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.

For no participant was that extra apparent than large receiver Rashee Rice — chosen out of SMU within the second spherical of April’s draft.

Rice performed into the third quarter on Saturday, catching passes from three completely different quarterbacks. He ended the evening with eight catches for 96 yards. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid denies, nevertheless, that the heavy workload was meant.

“Not essentially — his quantity simply acquired dialed up,” Reid insisted after the sport. “He’s an excellent soccer participant and actually has had a pleasant camp for us. Then he returns punts too, and he provides you plenty of flexibility.”

Talking after Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes in contrast Rice’s talent set to former Chiefs wideout Sammy Watkins.

“He runs bodily,” Mahomes noticed. “I’d say he has plenty of what Sammy had when he first acquired right here — with the ability to catch the ball, run bodily, nonetheless have velocity, and every part like that. He’s going to be an ideal participant for us — and we’re going to maintain making an attempt to push him to be even higher. Identical with a few of these different youthful guys that we have now.”

Rice appeared removed from destined to be one in all its heroes as the sport began. On the second play of the evening, Rice dropped a brief move from Mahomes — echoing the ineffective and sloppy efficiency from the first-team offense every week in the past because the Chiefs lost 26-24 to the New Orleans Saints to open the preseason.

Mahomes will not be involved with the early drop.

Picture by Norm Corridor/Getty Pictures

“He has an excellent really feel,” the face of the league declared. “We maintain pushing him to be higher and higher, however you’ll be able to see the expertise. He makes plenty of robust catches. He had the drop early, after which he responded nicely. I feel that’s simply the jitters of being in your first few NFL video games. I’ve plenty of belief in him.

“He could make these catches in robust areas. It’s simply one other playmaker that we have now on this offense.”

Regardless of the ringing endorsement from his quarterback after the early hiccup, Rice will possible hear concerning the missed alternative this week from his head coach.

“It’s nice to return again — simply let’s strive to not do it to start out,” Reid suggested. “In case you do, you’ve acquired to return again. However let’s attempt to remove the primary a part of the equation.”