The Kansas City Chiefs won another big game on Monday, but they lost a crucial piece along the way. Starting running back Isiah Pacheco took a hard hit to the leg in the fourth quarter of the 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders. And, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, he could be looking at a long layoff:
"Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, who left Monday night’s win with a knee injury, is considered week-to-week with an MCL sprain, per sources," Pelissero reported on Tuesday afternoon. Although he could still return to action before the season is done, it's becoming difficult to imagine the veteran runner staying in Kansas City for the long haul.
Isiah Pacheco's Injury Could be His End in Kansas City
There were already some doubts about whether the Chiefs, who didn't pick up his fifth-year rookie option, should bring him back next season. Unfortunately for Pacheco, another major injury should make that an easy decision for general manager Brett Veach.
Pacheco left the game with 58 yards on 12 carries. Through the first eight games of the season, he's averaged 4.2 yards per carry for 329 yards and one rushing touchdown, adding eleven receptions for 43 yards and another score. No matter how you slice it, that's a disappointing performance from someone who was once the Chiefs' de facto RB1 and someone who used to be one of the most explosive and hard-hitting running backs in the game.
And just when it finally seemed like he was catching some wind, he's now about to be sidelined with his second long-term injury in four years in the league.
Pacheco missed 10 games last season with a gruesome leg injury, and while he's still expected to be back at some point this season, we've seen how the Chiefs don't hesitate to move on from one struggling back to another guy, just like they did with him and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The Chiefs have veteran Kareem Hunt and seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith as healthy options. Elijah Mitchell could also finally get an opportunity after being a healthy scratch this season. Even so, this team might want to go after some help at the position.
Some rumors tied them to the likes of Alvin Kamara, De'Von Achane, or Breece Hall, but the latest reports suggested that they were interested in a defensive lineman, not a running back. That was, of course, before this unfortunate turn of events.
The Nov. 4 trade deadline is less than one week away, and with Pacheco's tenure with the organization looking all but over, trading for someone like Hall, who's eligible for a contract extension, sounds like the best solution to address the position for years to come. Whatever the case, GM Veach will have to do something, and it'll be interesting to see if any moves bring Pacheco one step closer to a K.C. exit.