Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was carted off the field with a leg injury against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday and Patrick Mahomes appeared to land the blow.

Mahomes threw an interception to Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton. As the cornerback returned the ball down the field, the ball was stripped from him and later ruled out of bounds. However, on the play, Mahomes leaned his shoulder into Fulton’s lower half. Mahomes missed Fulton completely and hit Rice’s right knee instead.

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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)

Rice walked gingerly to the bench, but barely made it any further. A cart came to the sideline and Rice was helped behind and laid down as he was taken off the field.

The team said Rice was questionable to return, but was later downgraded to out.

Two turnovers soon plagued the Chiefs.

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Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce (87) during the first half of an NFL football game, September 29, 2024, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

A fumble by Carson Steele led to a touchdown drive by Justin Herbert, which ended with a touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey. Then, after the interception, the Chargers kicked a field goal. They led 10-0 with 3:53 left in the first quarter.

But losing Rice would be a huge blow to the offense. He was by far the most targeted receiver of the Chiefs offense. With Travis Kelce off to a slow start, the Chiefs will need to have a next-man-up mentality to try to bounce back against the Chargers.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sept. 29, 2024, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Rice had 24 catches on 29 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 4 game.

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