Chiefs' Rashee Rice Reportedly Cleared to Travel for NFL Game in Brazil vs. Chargers

The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly will have wide receiver Rashee Rice available for their season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil next month.

Per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, Rice has been cleared to travel with the team and has been permitted to enter Brazil after pleading guilty to two felonies last month.

In July, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office sentenced Rice to five years of probation and 30 days of jail time after he pleaded guilty to the third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury, according to David Close of CNN.

According to Close, Rice was driving at more than 119 mph and lost control of his vehicle, hitting a median wall and triggering a chain reaction collision of six total vehicles. The DA also said Rice fled the scene, per Close.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Rice received deferred adjudication, meaning he can have his case dismissed if he completes his probation successfully.

Following the guilty plea, there were questions of whether Rice would be available to start the season or if he would have to serve a suspension. Schefter reported Thursday that Rice's disciplinary hearing with the NFL is expected to be held on Sept. 30, with an official punishment set to be decided after the hearing.

That means, after being cleared to travel to Brazil, Rice will be available for the Chiefs' first four games of the season against the Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens.

As for what kind of punishment Rice could be facing after the hearing, the Chiefs are "expecting" him to receive a suspension "in the neighborhood" of four to six games, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

Rice, a third-year receiver and former second-round pick, played just four games last year because of a knee injury, recording 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns.