The Kansas City Chiefs have been without starting running back Isiah Pacheco for the last three games due to an MCL sprain. Chiefs fans were hoping that Pacheco would return for Sunday’s game against the vaunted Indianapolis Colts, as he practiced and didn’t have any setbacks.
However, that was not the case, as Kansas City head coach Andy Reid ruled Pacheco out. This meant another opportunity for Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to prove themselves.
Luckily for the Chiefs, Hunt took full advantage of his third consecutive start, as he racked up a season-high 104 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. He also added three receptions (three targets) for 26 yards. It was his fourth-straight game with a rushing score and his best outing since Pacheco’s injury in Week 8.
Hunt averaged 3.5 yards per carry in Sunday’s overtime win, which isn’t overly impressive. But he did it against a Colts’ defense that was allowing 4.1 yards per carry and 92.3 yards per game heading into Week 12. When Pacheco returns, Kansas City could have a nice 1-2 combo with Hunt, or Hunt could keep the lead-back role.
Isiah Pacheco Losing Major Ground in Chiefs' RB Room While Injured
Before Pacheco went down with the MCL sprain in Week 8, he was actually playing better over his last three games.
The 26-year-old running back had three consecutive games with at least 50 rushing yards. He also averaged 4.3 yards per carry over that span, which was a slight improvement from the first five games of the season (4.2 yards per carry).
The Chiefs will hope Pacheco can pick up where he left off, but it's not guaranteed, given Hunt’s success on the ground lately.
Hunt’s success isn’t a fluke either, as he averaged 65.8 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry in eight games last season without Pacheco, who was sidelined by a right fibula fracture.
So not only does Pacheco have to worry about Hunt, but also the Chiefs’ new running back, Dameon Pierce. The Chiefs reportedly signed the former Texans running back to their practice squad on Sunday night.
Pierce is a versatile running back who can make an impact on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield, which makes him an upgrade over Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Elijah Mitchell. But it also makes the former Texan a threat to steal snaps from Pacheco as that change-of-pace option out of the backfield.
To say that Pacheco is under pressure to perform might be an understatement. With this being a contract year, in addition to his injury concerns, the veteran running back will need to show he can return to form and reclaim his spot as the lead guy for the stretch run.