The Kansas City Chiefs avoided a disastrous 0-3 start with a 22-9 victory over the New York Giants, finally notching their first win of the season. Patrick Mahomes delivered enough big plays to secure the result, but the bigger news came off the field from head coach Andy Reid.

He revealed that suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice will be allowed to rejoin the team’s facilities starting next week. “We do get 4 back, and I know the guys will be fired up to see him. He can’t practice; he can’t be on the field. But it’ll be good to have him around,” Reid said.

Rice has been serving a six-game suspension due to an offseason incident involving reckless street racing that resulted in a multi-car crash. This led to felony charges, and after pleading guilty in July, the league handed down a six-game suspension.

While Rice still can’t practice or play, he’s allowed to attend meetings and dive into the playbook, which sets him up to prepare for his return in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted that this is a great opportunity for Rice to “ramp up mentally” before his midseason debut.

Kansas City has badly missed his presence. Without their rising second-year receiver, Mahomes has looked unsettled, struggling with turnovers and timing issues. The Chiefs’ offense sputtered in their opening losses to the Chargers and Eagles, and even in Sunday’s win, it took a late Kareem Hunt touchdown to seal the deal. Reid acknowledged that the team’s performance was inconsistent. “The second quarter was not very good football. We’ve got to correct that as coaches and as players,” he said.

Rice’s eventual return could be the boost Kansas City’s offense needs. A reliable target with big-play potential, he showed flashes of becoming Mahomes’ go-to option as a rookie. With defenses keying on Travis Kelce and the run game still finding balance, Rice’s re-entry into the lineup could restore the firepower that once made the Chiefs nearly unstoppable.

For now, Kansas City is simply relieved to have avoided a 0-3 hole. But the anticipation for Rice’s Week 7 comeback is already building, and it might just be the turning point the reigning dynasty desperately needs.

Travis Kelce and Andy Reid’s fiery sideline clash steals spotlight in Chiefs’ win

But Rice wasn’t the only story making waves on Sunday night. The Chiefs’ sideline also caught fire after a heated exchange between Travis Kelce and Andy Reid.

Midway through the first half, cameras caught Reid and Kelce in a heated exchange. Kelce had just snagged a first down but was quickly shut down on a screen pass. Frustration bubbled over as he came off the field. Reid shouted at him, Kelce shot back, and the two collided chest-to-chest in a fiery moment that instantly went viral.

This clash drew comparisons to their earlier confrontation during Super Bowl LVIII. But unlike that meltdown, this one fizzled quickly without teammates stepping in. NBC’s Mike Tirico said, “You can sense the frustration on both sides.”

At halftime, Reid downplayed the drama. “We need some juice. So that’s good,” he told NBC’s Melissa Stark. After the win, he doubled down: “That guy’s all in. Just sometimes I have to play policeman.”

Kelce’s performance mirrored Kansas City’s offensive struggles. By halftime, the Chiefs had only managed two field goals. Kelce had just two short catches for four yards in the first half, a far cry from his usual dominance.

In the end, the Chiefs came out on top. But the sideline fireworks highlighted just how high tensions are after a rocky start to the season. For a team built on precision and poise, chemistry might be just as crucial as execution in the weeks to come.