Patrick Mahomes comments speak volumes as Kansas City Chiefs make injury decision

The Kansas City Chiefs have decided to place wide receiver Rashee Rice being placed on the injured reserve list, with quarterback feeling responsible for his teammate's injury.

Rice was taken off the field during their , who was trying to recover a fumble following an interception. Initial fears were that Rice had suffered a season-ending ACL tear, but there is hope that this may not be the case.

Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that Rice will not be playing in the upcoming match against the New Orleans Saints, and the player has now officially been put on the injured reserve list. The team is waiting for the swelling in Rice's knee to subside before conducting further tests, but he will be out of action for at least the next four weeks.

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"We're really hoping that things work out for the best, but let's just see where it goes and leave it up to the doctors to see,'' Reid said on Thursday. "Rashee's had a phenomenal year.

"Unfortunately, in this league injuries happen, and life goes on, so we always expected the next guys to step up and roll, and it's no different now. There's not another Rashee. There [are] other guys, though, that are very, very good, so we'll be fine.''

Before his injury in the first quarter on Sunday, Rice had made 24 receptions and covered 288 yards in the first four games. As the Chiefs' leading receiver this season with two touchdowns, his absence will be keenly felt and the team will need to rally in response.The Kansas City Chiefs have been dealt a blow with the loss of running back Isiah Pacheco to injury, leading them to re-sign veteran Kareem Hunt.

Mahomes, the team's quarterback, is feeling the strain of losing his top receiver. "When I saw the replay, I felt like s--- that I hit Rashee," Mahomes confessed.

"I think that's pretty much all ... I mean, I wasn't really worried about myself. I was worried about, hopefully, his injury, and hopefully that it wasn't as bad as it looked because I was the one that hit him."

Despite accidentally injuring Rice, Mahomes managed to avoid injury himself in what could have been a dangerous collision. When asked if he was concerned for his own safety, he replied: "No I didn't notice in the moment, I was more worried about trying to get the ball.

"But yeah, obviously, just trying to make a play. It happens when you're trying to make tackles. "

The Chiefs are now focusing on their "next man up" strategy without Rice, spotlighting two key players in their offense. Rookie Xavier Worthy is set to take on a bigger role after scoring a crucial touchdown in the win over the Chargers, while tight end Travis Kelce has yet to reach his peak this season. Kelce has clocked 158 yards this season and no touchdowns, marking a 50 percent drop from his averages last year.