Rashee Rice cleared to travel with Chiefs for Brazil trip

Rice can travel to Brazil for Week 1, but NFL discipline could keep him off the field later in the season.

Rashee Rice cleared to travel with Chiefs for Brazil trip despite looming suspension

The NFL’s international games have unique rules that can block a player from leaving the country after legal trouble. On Thursday, Mark Maske of the Washington Post raised the possibility that Rashee Rice’s guilty plea to two felonies from a March 2024 street racing crash could complicate Brazil entry for the September 5 Chiefs vs Chargers game. By Friday, Maske reported that Rice has received clearance to travel with the team and enter Brazil, clearing a potential logistical hurdle.

The larger question remains whether the NFL will suspend him before Week 1. There is no current agreement, and a disciplinary hearing is set for September 30. If a suspension is imposed, Rice would miss the opener; absent a deal, he could be available for at least the first four games and possibly six if an appeal extends the penalty. Paid leave is not considered likely at this time, but the timeline could shift if the league takes a different route.

This case shows how young players navigate the line between opportunity and accountability, especially when a high‑stakes season begins with an overseas game. Rice’s travel clearance illustrates that teams can secure travel while the discipline process remains unsettled, creating a juggling act for managers and coaches.

For Kansas City, the situation underscores how a single off‑field issue can reshape roster planning, travel logistics, and public perception during the opening weeks of a season. The Chiefs must prepare for a version of Week 1 that includes Rice and a version without him, a test of depth, pragmatism, and media scrutiny.

Highlights

The season clock starts now and the handling of this case could set a precedent for how the league balances punishment with opportunity.