Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledged his indirect role in causing a knee injury to wide receiver Rashee Rice.

Mahomes threw an interception in the first quarter and inadvertently rolled into Rice’s leg when attempting to tackle Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton.

“Rashee really made a good play,” he told reporters. “I was trying to tackle the guy and obviously rolled up on him. If I don’t turn the ball over, that never happens.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Chiefs believe Rice may have torn his ACL, pending further testing.

The second-year wideout was on pace for a breakout campaign. Through Kansas City’s first three games, he caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, and he had emerged as Mahomes’ go-to target.

 

The Chiefs were already playing without running back Isiah Pacheco, who’s recovering from a fractured fibula. Wideout Marquise “Hollywood” Brown didn’t even get to suit up before landing on injured reserve. Now, the offense is even more short-handed.

That Rice was hurt in such fluky circumstances only adds to the sense of frustration.

For now, the onus is on first-round pick Xavier Worthy to assume a larger role in the passing game. Especially if Rice is ruled out for the year, the front office may feel little choice but to bring in reinforcements to keep the Chiefs’ three-peat bid on track.