The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for an AFC showdown against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. And based on Thursday's update, it looks like running back Isiah Pacheco won't be playing.
Head coach Andy Reid said on Thursday that Isiah Pacheco (knee) and Josh Simmons (personal) won’t practice. Meanwhile, everyone else will be doing some practice work in this session. Considering that Pacheco missed Wednesday as well, it doesn't look good for him playing against Buffalo, opening the door more for rookie Brashard Smith.
Pacheco left last week's game against the Washington Commanders after getting hit in the knee, and that will likely keep him sidelined for this contest. Missing two days of practice is less than ideal, but it's what Pacheco is facing, which has clouded his gameday status.
Isiah Pacheco Isn’t Practicing for 2nd Straight Day for Chiefs
With Pacheco likely sidelined, the Chiefs will rely on the trio of Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, and Smith. Throughout this season, Hunt has been utilized as a short-yardage back, consistently receiving carries at the goal line. Meanwhile, Smith has seen his role increase slowly through the first two months of the season.
This injury for Pacheco isn't considered a long-term one, but it's less than ideal for him. He's in a contract year and missed a lot of time last year due to a fibula injury. It seems like he can't get out of his own way lately, which isn't helpful for his sake.
It'll likely be a running back committee approach for Kansas City in this outing. Hunt has 245 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, but he likely can't carry the full load by himself. As for Smith, he's been a change of pace back that has been mostly leaned on for his pass-catching skills (14 catches for 122 receiving yards).
Meanwhile, Mitchell hasn't even played a single snap for this Chiefs team. The biggest winner of this situation appears to be Smith. With Pacheco slated to miss this game, this is the perfect opportunity to see what the 22-year-old rookie can do with a larger workload.
It'll be an area that fans keep a close eye on. The Bills and Chiefs have developed a rivalry over the last few years, so this matchup already has added emotion. And despite them expecting to be down one of their top running backs, they'll lean on the depth they've built over the past couple of months.