KANSAS CITY, Mo. — From the Chiefs’ perspective, there seems to be little doubt that receiver Rashee Rice will be punished by the NFL for his role in a March 2024 six-car crash on a Dallas freeway.

It’s more a matter of how long that suspension will last.

But any NFL punishment apparently won’t come for at least six weeks. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday that Rice should be available to play in the Chiefs’ first four games.

Rice last month was sentenced by a Dallas judge to 30 days of jail time and five years probation for the crash. The NFL said at that time it was monitoring the Rice situation.

Schefter reported that Rice is expected to have a disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Sept. 30 in New York. That would make him available to play through a key part of the Chiefs’ schedule.

They open the season against the AFC West rival Chargers in Brazil on Sept. 5. Then comes a Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles on Sept. 14 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, a Sept. 21 game at the Giants and a home meeting with the Ravens on Sept. 28.

At training camp at Missouri Western, Rice was asked about the possibility of a suspension and how he’s preparing for the season. “I’m locked in,” Rice said. “This is what I do. This is my job. This is what I love to do. So, even when I’m not able to be out there with my team, I’m gonna still be working as hard as I can so I can be back out there with them as soon as possible.”

Rice, 25, is returning from a knee injury that limited him to four games in the 2024 season. He caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns before being injured early in a game against the Chargers.

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