The Kansas City Chiefs' offense will likely be shorthanded again when they face the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Starting running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with a knee injury, which forced him to miss the heartbreaking loss to the Buffalo Bills before the bye week, and it doesn't sound like things are improving.
According to Chiefs beat writer Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star, it doesn't sound like Pacheco has made much progress. Sweeney noted on Thursday that the veteran running back was absent from the media's portion of practice, indicating that he likely won't be on the field this weekend.
With Pacheco's outlook grim, the pressure is on the Chiefs to decide what they'll do with rookie RB Brashard Smith moving forward.
It's Now or Never for Chiefs to Unleash Brashard Smithf
The Chiefs seemingly made a mistake in their last game. Instead of giving Smith a longer leash or elevating Elijah Mitchell, they brought back former draft pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Head coach Andy Reid's familiarity with Edwards-Helaire was the primary reason to use him, but, once again, he was a non-factor in his return.
Now, facing a tough Broncos' defense that puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback (first in pressures, sack rate, and QB knockdowns), Smith should be the Chiefs' weapon of choice. Unlike Kareem Hunt, Mitchell, or Edwards-Helaire, he's actually great in the passing game, having caught 14 balls on 19 targets for 122 receiving yards so far.
As a former wide receiver, Smith has reliable hands, and he's also a willing and physical pass-blocker. That could prove to be crucial in a game in which QB Patrick Mahomes won't have a lot of time to get rid of the ball, and he's already proven to be shifty and efficient in screen passes.
The Chiefs haven't given the first-year pro a long leash, but offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has seemingly drawn up more situational plays for him, especially on third down. Smith gives this team a different layer, and he can be used as a deception with some motion at the line of scrimmage.
Smith is an intelligent player with good vision who knows how to use his low center of gravity to twist his way through the defense. His early performance hasn't jumped off the page yet, but playing crucial snaps for a Super Bowl contender during the most important part of the season might take his game to the next level.
Besides, it's not like the Chiefs have a lot of options. Hunt isn't a bell-cow back at this point in his career, Edwards-Helaire has rarely given this team anything, and Mitchell hasn't played since 2023. It's time to unleash Smith before the season gets to a point where Kansas City wishes it had done so earlier.