Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Ordered To Serve 30 Days In Jail For Violating Probation
Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is once again in legal trouble. Rice violated his probation after testing positive for THC, Matt Foster of KSHB 41 News reports. He has been ordered to serve 30 days in jail.
Rice is on probation for five years as a result of a 2004 hit-and-run crash that led to eight felony charges. After pleading guilty to felony collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury, Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $115K to the injured victims.
[RELATED: Rice Facing Multi-Month Rehab After Knee Surgery]
Rice’s jail sentence is the same one he was originally ordered to serve, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Had he not violated probation, Rice would have been able to choose when to serve his time over the next five years, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports relays. He will now have to go through with it immediately, which will prevent him from participating in the Chiefs’ upcoming OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
The NFL suspended Rice for the first six games of last season as a result of his street-racing crash. However, it is unlikely this violation will lead to another ban, according to Jones, who notes the league does not suspend players for positive marijuana tests. It is nonetheless another unwelcome off-field development for Rice, who was accused of domestic violence in a civil lawsuit filed in February. Dacoda Jones, Rice’s ex-girlfriend, claimed he repeatedly assaulted her from December 2023 to July 2025. He was not charged with a crime, and the league chose not to suspend him after reviewing the matter.
On the field, Rice is entering the pivotal final season of the four-year rookie contract he signed in 2023. During the pre-draft process, NFL teams became aware of an alleged incident in which Rice or a member of his party fired multiple shots into an empty car belonging to a member of SMU’s basketball team. The Chiefs nonetheless selected Rice in the second round (No. 55 overall), a move that has paid dividends when he has taken the field. Rice was a standout during a 16-game rookie year in which he caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He added another 26 receptions in a four-game playoff run, including six in a Super Bowl LVIII win over the 49ers.
Thanks to a Week 4 LCL tear in 2024, last year’s suspension and a concussion, Rice played a mere 12 games over the previous two seasons. Despite suiting up just eight times in 2025, the 26-year-old piled up 53 catches, 571 yards and five scores. Barring punishment from the league, the Chiefs will count on Rice to continue serving as a key weapon when the upcoming season starts. Rice will be the top receiver in a corps that also includes Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals and fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen.
QB Brendan Sorsby Files Injunction For 2026 NCAA Eligibility
With the deadline for entry into the NFL’s supplemental draft approaching, Brendan Sorsby‘s efforts to resolve the matter of his college eligibility continue. The latest development in this saga is a legal one.
Sorsby’s legal team has filed an injunction in Lubbock County, Texas, as detailed by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. A hearing for June 15 has been requested so that a ruling can be made in time for June 22. The latter date represents the deadline for players (most notably Sorsby) to enter the supplemental draft.
Given that short timeframe, an expedited resolution on the matter of Sorsby’s 2026 eligibility is being sought out. His legal team has long expected a rejection on that front, leading to the injunction as an anticipated next step. A statement from Texas Tech said the school plans to “quickly initiate the reinstatement process” for Sorsby, who included a signed affidavit in the court filing and worked out an “agreed-upon stipulation of facts” between himself, Texas Tech and the NCAA.
“The relief [being sought] is narrow: one student-athlete and one senior season,” the court filing reads in part. “The NCAA will suffer no cognizable harm from letting Mr. Sorsby play football while this case proceeds. But if this Court does not act, no future judgment can give Mr. Sorsby what the NCAA will have taken from him.”
The filing also states that Sorsby – who transferred to the Red Raiders and signed a lucrative NIL deal along the way – offered to accept a two-game suspension to begin the 2026 campaign provided he was reinstated for his senior campaign. The highly-touted quarterback is likely to face a far steeper punishment given the NCAA’s rules related to gambling. Sorsby admitted to placing small wagers on Indiana to win games during his redshirt freshman season. The wagers were not placed on any contests in which Sorsby played, and the filing claims the betting stopped in 2022.
Sorsby stipulated to making several other bets in recent years on non-football events, leading to the expectation he will not be reinstated by the NCAA. In that event, attention will turn to the matter of the supplemental draft. The low-profile event occurs on an as-needed basis for players no longer eligible to play in college, and Sorsby would represent the most noteworthy player taking part in the event in several years.
The 2027 QB draft class is expected to be led by Texas’ Arch Manning and Oregon’s Dante Moore, but several other passers are viewed as having a strong chance of being selected in the first round. On that note, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports Sorsby is widely seen as a top-50 prospect ahead of the 2026 season. Multiple evaluators Howe spoke with indicated Sorsby may have been drafted higher than Ty Simpson – who went 13th overall last month – had he been in the 2026 class.
Recent editions of the supplemental draft have come and gone without players being taken. Teams often prefer to retain their draft capital for the main event in April rather than losing it in the summer through the auction-style supplemental version. Sorsby could of course represent an exception, though, if teams view him as a starting-caliber passer at the pro level. The timeline along which clarity emerges in this case will be worth watching closely.
Deshaun Watson Open To Staying With Browns Beyond 2026; Team Showed Malik Willis Interest
Lacking an answer at the game’s most important position, the Browns stood out as potential suitors for quarterback Malik Willis before free agency opened. The former Tennessee and Green Bay backup ultimately landed in Miami on a three-year, $67.5MM deal. Cleveland had interest, but not at that price, Daniel Oyefusi and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN report.
For the Browns, signing the unproven Willis would have meant adding another expensive QB contract, albeit a far more affordable one than they gave Deshaun Watson in 2022. The fully guaranteed five-year, $230MM pact they handed Watson after acquiring him from the Texans has been a crippling mistake, as has the decision to part with a package headlined by three first-round picks. Watson has started just 19 games as a member of the Browns, who have restructured his onerous deal on a handful of occasions.
Watson’s contract is down to its final season, but he will continue to significantly impact their books for two more years after that. He will count a combined $86.2MM in dead money against their cap from 2027-28. There is a strong chance Watson will be off the Browns’ roster a year from now, though a source close to the three-time Pro Bowler told Oyefusi and Fowler “he would be open to” staying in Cleveland if the upcoming season goes well.
It is very much up in the air if the Browns will get anything from the soon-to-be 31-year-old Watson in 2026. He will first have to outperform second-year man Shedeur Sanders in the Browns’ starting competition this summer. That may not be an especially tall order, as Sanders is far from a lock to develop into a legitimate No. 1 option, but Watson is coming off a severe injury. Watson last took the field on Oct. 20, 2024, when he ruptured his right Achilles. While rehabbing in January 2025, Watson ruptured it again. He spent all of last season on the PUP list as a result, leaving the Browns to divide 17 starts among Sanders, Joe Flacco (traded to the Bengals in October) and Dillon Gabriel during a 5-12 campaign.
The Browns spent a third-rounder on Gabriel last year and used a sixth-rounder on Taylen Green last month, but those two do not appear to be in the running for the No. 1 job in 2026. New head coach Todd Monken will decide between Watson and Sanders. The hope is Watson will perform better in Monken’s system than he did under previous head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“The way [Stefanski] wanted him to play didn’t fit his style,” the source close to Watson told Oyefusi and Fowler.
As Oyefusi and Fowler note, Monken runs more of a spread-oriented scheme. Maybe the coaching change and a return to health will revive Watson, but skepticism is warranted for a QB whose stock has plummeted over the past few years.
NFL Owners Vote To Expand International Schedule
MAY 19: The owners have voted to expand the international schedule from eight to 10 games in 2027, NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly announced (via Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports).
MAY 18: The NFL’s owners will meet this week in Orlando. Among the items on the agenda is a potential expansion of the league’s international schedule.
Owners will have the option of increasing the number of overseas games to 10 for 2027, as noted by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. That figure would not include the Jaguars’ ability to schedule a London contest separate from the NFL’s slate. The team’s home games are set to be played in Orlando in 2027 while stadium renovations in Jacksonville take place.
As a result, a maximum of 11 international games could be played that season. 2026 will see a new record set in that regard, and continued expansion of the overseas slate has long been a priority for the NFL’s owners. That is not expected to end (or even see a reduction) any time soon with new markets consistently being sought out.
In 2026, three games will be played in London; the Jags will play there in consecutive weeks. One game in each of Paris, Madrid and Munich will also be taking place. Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro will serve as host cities for NFL contests as well, with a return to Mexico City also forthcoming. Nine of the league’s first 11 weeks during the regular season will include an overseas game.
The NFL is aiming to eventually have every team play once internationally on an annual basis, something which has become increasingly clear over time. A 16-game slate would of course become more feasible with an overall expansion of the schedule from 17 games to 18. Nothing seems to be imminent on that front, but the widespread expectation remains that an 18-game setup will be in place relatively soon. Especially if/when that is the case, further expansion of markets outside the United States can be anticipated.
Lions Attempted To Acquire No. 14 Pick From Ravens
Not long after the draft was finished, it was reported the Ravens nearly worked out a trade which would have seen them move down the first-round order. Further details on the offer Baltimore considered have emerged.
The latest edition of Ravens Wired (video link) showcases the discussions held by general manager Eric DeCosta and Co. leading up to the 14th overall pick. The Lions attempted to move up from No. 17, offering pick No. 118 and a third-round selection in 2027 to do so. Teams were largely hesitant to part with capital in next year’s draft, one believed to be much stronger than the 2026 edition.
That makes Detroit’s offer a notable one, although it comes as little surprise GM Brad Holmes showed interest in moving up the board. The Lions had long been connected to Kadyn Proctor, and drafting him would have helped stabilize an offensive line which has been in flux this year. Based on the timing of Baltimore’s conversations with Detroit, it appears as though Holmes’ offer was rescinded shortly before the Ravens made their selection.
The Dolphins wound up selecting Proctor at No. 12, taking the Alabama product out of consideration for any Lions deal moving them up the board. As a result, the Ravens remained in place and went the expected route of drafting Penn State guard Vega Ioane. The Lions, meanwhile, still managed to add an offensive tackle by drafting Clemson’s Blake Miller at No. 17. All three O-linemen will be expected to contribute early and often in their careers.
Proctor flashed considerable potential with his combination of size and athleticism during his college career. Concerns related to his playing weight and overall consistency were raised leading up to the draft, but it came as little surprise when he was selected early on Day 1 (albeit to play guard in Miami). Miller’s stock nevertheless rose considerably during the pre-draft process, and his success as a rookie will play a key role in determining the Lions’ play up front as they seek to return to the playoffs in 2026.
Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks Uncertain If He’ll Receive Extension
The Dolphins handed running back De’Von Achane a lucrative four-year extension last week, leaving linebacker Jordyn Brooks as the clear next candidate to get a new deal. While the veteran is reportedly seeking a raise, he’s uncertain if Miami will dish out the money to keep him around for the long haul.
[RELATED: Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks Seeking Raise]
While speaking with reporters today, Brooks admitted that he’s unsure if he’ll receive an extension offer from the organization.
“I don’t know,” Brooks said when asked about his extension candidacy (via C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald). “It could go either way, obviously. I’m just controlling what I can control — play football. I’m blessed to do it. So I’m just going to keep approaching it that way.”
The former Seahawks first-round pick joined the Dolphins via a three-year deal in 2024. He’s emerged as one of Miami’s defensive leaders over the past two years, culminating in a 2025 campaign when he earned a first-team All-Pro nod after finishing with a league-leading 183 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked Brooks 11th among 88 qualifying linebackers, including the third-best positional grade for his run defense.
Brooks is now entering the final season of his contract and has no guaranteed money left on his deal. While there was some skepticism that he’d show up for OTAs as he pursued a new deal, Brooks made it clear that a holdout was never under consideration.
“I need to get better as a player so that’s why I show up,” Brooks said. “Obviously, I never want to send the wrong message to the team or to my teammates. I play with these guys. Go to battle with them. I want them to know that I’m here no matter what [and that I’m] playing the game for the right reasons.”
For what it’s worth, the Dolphins haven’t given any indication that they’re against extending the linebacker. Back in March, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said he wants Brooks “to be part of this” and “to be a pillar on the defensive side.” Coach Jeff Hafley was equally complimentary of his defensive leader today.
“Great leader, loves football, works really, really hard,” Hafley said (via Smalls). “He’s made the right way. I’ve really enjoyed him. You see the film, you see the type of player that he is; but once you get to know him you kind of understand why. I think his work ethic is elite and he loves football. He absolutely loves the game and he wants to meet. He wants to go over stuff. He wants to learn. He’s a fun guy to coach.”
As Smalls notes, Azeez Al-Shaair‘s recent extension could provide a basis for a future Brooks contract. The Texans linebacker got a three-year, $54MM extension, and that $18MM average annual value would represent a significant leap from Brooks’ current $8.76MM AAV. As the Dolphins navigate a significant rebuild, the team may decide it’s worth it to retain one of their few veteran leaders.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/19/26
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: RB Montrell Johnson, TE Bryce Pierre
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Aaron Anderson, LB Reid Carrico, LB Markees Watts
- Waived: TE Caden Prieskorn, WR Isaiah Wooden
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Michael Briscoe, LB Devean Deal
Ravens Sign Zion Young, Complete Draft Class Signings
The Ravens have completed their draft class signings. The team announced that they’ve inked second-round linebacker Zion Young to his rookie contract.
Young put himself on the NFL map with strong showings at Michigan State in 2023 and Missouri in 2024, but he established himself as one of the top prospects at his position with a dominant 2025 campaign. The pass rusher got into 13 games for the Tigers, tallying 42 stops, 6.5 sacks, and 16.5 tackles for loss. That performance earned him a first-team All-SEC nod.
The Ravens selected Young with the 45th-overall pick in this year’s draft. Baltimore ranked 28th in pass-rush win rate in 2025, so some young talent on the edge should certainly help the defense. The Ravens, of course, added Trey Hendrickson to help in that regard, but the team should have some open snaps opposite the All-Pro pass rusher. Young will be competing with Tavius Robinson and 2025 second-round pick Mike Green for reps.
As mentioned, the Ravens have now signed all of their 11 draft picks to contracts. The draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 14: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
- Round 2, No. 45: Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
- Round 3, No. 80: Ja’Kobi Lane (WR, USC)
- Round 4, No. 115: Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from 49ers)*: Matthew Hibner (TE, SMU)
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Chargers): Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Josh Cuevas (TE, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 174*: Adam Randall (RB, Clemson)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Broncos via Jets, Vikings and Eagles): Ryan Eckley (P, Michigan State)
- Round 7, No. 250: Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan)
- Round 7, No. 253: Evan Beerntsen (G, Northwestern)
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Recently Underwent Knee Surgery, Expected To Be Sidelined For Two Months
The Rashee Rice saga has taken yet another turn. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs wide receiver recently underwent a clean-up surgery on his right knee. This will sideline Rice for two months.
[RELATED: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Ordered To Serve 30 Days In Jail For Violating Probation]
The operation was intended to remove “loose debris” that was causing inflammation in the wideout’s knee. There is no structural damage, and the debridement was solely required to relieve the discomfort. The pain stems from Rice’s knee injury from 2024, when he suffered a torn LCL, a damaged hamstring tendon, and a damaged PLC after colliding with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The surgery took place last week in Dallas. Schefter notes that Rice went under the knife without the knowledge that he’d soon be sentenced to 30 days in jail for violating the terms of his probation.
Rice is set to be released from jail on June 16th. This means he’ll miss some critical time that could have been spent rehabbing with the Chiefs medical staff. Schefter notes that Rice is still expected to be ready to go for training camp.
Rice is on probation for five years as a result of a 2024 hit-and-run crash that resulted in eight felony charges. His current jail sentence stems from a positive THC test. Rice was previously ordered to serve a 30-day sentence but was granted the ability to choose when he’d spend his time in jail. By violating the terms of his probation, he’s now being forced to serve that sentence immediately.
Rice was already slapped with a six-game suspension for the crash, and when coupled with his recovery from the knee injury and a subsequent concussion, the receiver has been limited to only 12 games over the past two years. He’s still been productive when he’s seen the field, averaging more than 70 yards per game while hauling in seven touchdowns across the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Rice’s legal issues have already put the Chiefs in a difficult position, and his recovery from this knee surgery will continue to stress their WR depth. If Rice’s recovery extends into the regular season, the Chiefs will be eyeing a WR corps that features former first-round pick Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, and rookie fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen.
CB Nazeeh Johnson To Visit Bears
The market for Nazeeh Johnson is starting to heat up. After being connected to the Cowboys and Giants, the free agent defensive back is set to visit with the Bears, per Jordan Schultz.
[RELATED: CB Nazeeh Johnson Met With Eagles, Arranges Giants Visit]
The 2022 seventh-round pick out of Marshall has spent his entire career in Kansas City, where he’s earned a pair of Super Bowl rings. He played exclusively on special teams as a rookie, and his sophomore season was completely wiped out thanks to a torn ACL.
The cornerback finally got some run on defense during the 2024 season, when he started six of his 16 appearances. He finished that year with 56 tackles, one sack, and three passes defended, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 101st among 117 qualifying corners. Johnson also started two of his three postseason appearances that year.
His 2025 campaign was mostly erased thanks to a shoulder injury suffered during the preseason. He was limited to only two late-season contests, with all of his 27 snaps coming on special teams.
Chicago’s cornerbacks corps will look a bit different in 2026. Nahshon Wright and Nick McCloud are no longer around, leaving Tyrique Stevenson, Jaylon Johnson, and Kyler Gordon to lead the depth chart. If Johnson catches on, he could establish a depth role ahead of the likes of fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad and former fifth-round pick Terell Smith.