Chiefs Get Unfortunate Isiah Pacheco Injury News as Fans Await Return
The Kansas City Chiefs will look to remain perfect in Week 9 when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beneath the Monday Night Football spotlight. As the defending Super Bowl champions try for their eighth win of the campaign, Chiefs fans are wondering if running back Isiah Pacheco will soon return to the lineup.
The former 2022 seventh-round pick hasn't suited up since he fractured his fibula back in Week 2. The initial diagnosis projected that Pacheco would miss at least six weeks and we're now in the seventh week of his absence.
On Thursday, the Chiefs had an update regarding Pacheco's status. Unfortunately, it wasn't what optimistic fans wanted to hear.
Chiefs Injury News: Isiah Pacheco Could Miss More Time
While Pacheco is allegedly "doing fantastic," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says that he likely won't return to practice in the next two weeks, per The Athletic's Nate Taylor. With that in mind, the Week 11 showdown with the Buffalo Bills seems like the likeliest return date for the injured 25-year-old.
Andy Reid said Isiah Pacheco is "doing fantastic," but that he's not ready to return to practice this week or likely next week.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) October 31, 2024
Reid had a similar answer for Charles Omenihu.
Pacheco missing more time, even if it's only another game or two, isn't exactly ideal. The Chiefs' No. 1 RB was off to a strong start to the 2024 campaign before disaster struck, recording 135 rushing yards and a touchdown on 34 carries while also turning seven receptions into 54 receiving yards.
The Chiefs' backfield appeared to be in disarray when Carson Steele and Samaje Perine struggled to replicate Pacheco's production. Fortunately, Kansas City's RB situation immediately improved when the franchise reunited with former Pro Bowl runner Kareem Hunt.
Although he's no longer in his prime, Hunt has done a terrific job at filling in for Pacheco. The ex-Toledo product has turned 84 carries into 308 yards and four TDs in four games, which puts him on pace for a 357-1,309-17 stat line in a 17-game schedule. Is it sustainable? Probably not, but the Chiefs will take it as long as Pacheco is hurt.
The silver lining here is that it doesn't look like Kansas City needs Pacheco's help to defeat Tampa Bay. FanDuel Sportsbook is currently listing the Chiefs as 8.5-point favorites over the Buccaneers ahead of their Week 9 MNF clash at Arrowhead Stadium.
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