Rashee Rice's Hamstring Timeline Is the Real Stress Test for Kansas City's Receivers

Kingdom is celebrating Josh Simmons getting back on the grass. Fair. We covered that. The quieter problem is still walking the sideline in a hoodie.

Our Take: Rashee Rice missing Wednesday's practice — the only Chiefs player Andy Reid held out — is the story that actually changes Sunday's plan against the Chargers.

Per Sports Illustrated and KCTV, Reid said Rice "will be the only one that doesn't go today," after the hamstring that knocked him out of the Raiders game in Week 4. Asked if he expects Rice back later this week, Reid wouldn't commit: "We'll see how it goes. He's actually feeling pretty good as he goes here… Those things, you start dealing with hamstrings, and it could be a week, could be two weeks, you don't know." KCTV adds Reid still called it a minor tweak and said Rice is feeling better, but the injury report will decide it.

Meanwhile Tyquan Thornton is on IR with a season-threatening ankle dislocation from that same Raiders win, and the club brought Justin Watson back to the practice squad. Undrafted left tackle Kahlil Benson has held down Simmons' spot, so the line has a plan. The receiver room is improvising.

What Kingdom should watch the rest of the week: does Rice practice Thursday or Friday at all, and if not, who actually earns the snaps next to Hollywood Brown and company with Watson freshly re-signed. A 5-0 team can survive a short-handed room for one home game. It can't guess on a hamstring.

Sources: SI: Simmons returns, Rice uncertain, KCTV: Simmons practice, Rice held out