The Kansas City Chiefs emerged 17-10 with a late victory over their AFC West foe Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, but they suffered a huge loss in the game that could potentially be very serious in the future.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice, the NFL’s leading receiver through the first three weeks of the season, was carted off the field after an interception of Patrick Mahomes led to the quarterback accidentally plowing into his favorite target’s knee while trying to get the tackle the Chargers defender who picked the ball. him off.

Rice was lying on the field and in a lot of pain. When he was taken away on a cart, he had a towel over his face and his hands on his head, which is never a good sign when it comes to knee injuries.

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Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton, left, fumbles the ball out of bounds after intercepting a pass as Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sept. 29, 2024, in Inglewood, California (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Head coach Andy Reid said after the win that the team will wait and see what Rice’s MRI says, but it doesn’t seem like they’re expecting anything good. Multiple reports say the Chiefs fear Rice has a torn ACL, which would be a huge blow to the offense the rest of the way.

“I feel terrible for Rashee,” he told reporters. “… We hope for the best.”

If there is a season-ending injury, the Chiefs would be without Rice, Hollywood Brown, who was lost for the season before even getting a chance against Kansas City, and Isiah Pacheco, who is recovering from a broken fibula.

PATRICK MAHOMES LEVELS RASHEE RICE AFTER INTERCEPTION; CHIEFS WIDE RECEIVER OUT FOR GAME

It’s a tough break for the Chiefs, but like this game, they just need the next man up to get the win.

The Chargers, a team that was in foul trouble heading into this game, saw the Chiefs pull away in the fourth quarter at a 10-10 game after forcing a three-and-out on Justin Herbert and shutting down the offense. Chargers. Herbert battled through his ankle injury to play on Sunday, although his movement appeared limited.

After a 29-yard reception from tight end Noah Gray, the Chiefs found themselves on first-and-goal from the two-yard line a few plays later with 6:04 to play in the quarter. That’s when Samaje Perine, one of three running backs Reid used on Sunday, burst into the end zone to give the Chiefs a late lead.

There was more than enough time for the Chargers to operate, but Herbert, who struggled to hang on all game, couldn’t get the job done. Los Angeles was forced to punt and they would never get the ball back. The Chiefs ran out the clock after Xavier Worthy, the team’s starting speedster, gathered 15 yards on 3rd-and-6 to get the first down needed to kneel it out.

With Rice out, Mahomes relied on Worthy’s lightning speed to record the team’s first touchdown of the game, and it was a highlight-reel play as the quarterback used his entire arm to send a 54-yard strike to Worthy in the end zone to launch.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) celebrates with linebacker Leo Chenal after catching a 54-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)

That made the game 10-7 in favor of Los Angeles, whose only touchdown came on their opening possession following a Chiefs fumble four plays into the game. Herbert played 10 plays and 74 yards to find his rookie receiver, Ladd McConkey, in the back of the end zone on an absolute run that only his man could catch from seven yards out.

But while the Chiefs battled turnovers, the Chargers simply couldn’t get things going as Herbert was pressured with his two starting tackles, Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt, both out.

Herbert completed 16 of his 27 attempts for 179 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, and Mahomes had 245 yards on 19 of 29 with one touchdown and one interception.

Seven of those Mahomes completed passes went to Travis Kelce, who finally tied the game after rushing for just 69 total yards in his first three games. He led the game with 89 yards on those catches and Worthy had three for 73 yards.

Also, Kareem Hunt’s return to a Chiefs uniform was great to see if you’re a Kansas City fan, as he racked up 85 yards from scrimmage and seemed to solidify his role as the team’s leading running back with Pacheco out. He had 14 carries for 69 yards, while Perine and Steele combined for seven on the day.

It wasn’t pretty for either team, but again, it was the Chiefs who did the right things in the fourth quarter to come away with the win.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)

They remain undefeated, but the Chiefs will need contributions from everyone as Rice is not expected to be back this season.

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Meanwhile, the Chargers themselves are looking to get healthy as they are 2-2 after a 2-0 start to the new season.

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