Ray Rice has not appeared in an NFL game in over two years and is nearing his 30th birthday, but the door has apparently not yet slammed shut on his playing career.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that there is a “growing sense inside the league” that a team may give Rice a shot this season. As Schefter notes, player contracts are no longer guaranteed for the season after Week 1 passes, so a team could sign Rice as early as next week with no financial risk.
Rice has reportedly remained in football shape, which is not a surprise since he has said on numerous occasions that he is not ready to accept that his career is over. The three-time Pro Bowler was suspended indefinitely in 2014 after a video emerged that showed him punching his then-fiancee in an elevator and knocking her unconscious.
While injuries will likely dictate whether a team signs Rice, we know at least one team discussed the possibility as recently as this year.
