Over the last few weeks of the season, it has become apparent that the Kansas City Chiefs trust veteran Kareem Hunt more than one-time reliable starter Isiah Pacheco after he was given only three carries against the Cowboys, clearly losing his starting job to the veteran. For Hunt, it is great to see things come full circle with the back fighting his way out of a short-yardage role and back into a starting one. For Pacheco, this paints a bleak picture as the playmaker heads into the final games of a contract year.
There was a time when the rusher appeared to be the future of the position for the Chiefs. Now, it would be surprising to see the two sides reach an agreement in free agency. It would require the back to be willing to sign at a discounted rate and be willing to fight for a starting role. This cannot be ruled out entirely based on the experience in Kansas City and the current depth around the league at the position.
Things went awry for Pacheco a season ago when the playmaker suffered a fractured fibula and missed the bulk of the season. Returning late last year, it was obvious there wasn't the same intensity and burst present before the injuries.
Chiefs Have Difficult Upcoming Decision on Struggling RB Isiah Pacheco
It will be an uphill battle for Pacheco to change this, with very limited carries expected moving forward. The Chiefs are 6-6 on the season and have every reason for an incredible sense of urgency, needing to run the table to control their own destiny. With this in mind, head coach Andy Reid is likely to use his most trusted veteran pieces. This means a lot of Patrick Mahomes throwing the football and Hunt being the needed balance in the rushing attack.
All of this paints a bleak picture when it comes to a potential reunion with Pacheco. It seems that the back will either need to find a new landing spot or be forced to take a pay cut. For the Chiefs, the likely path is retaining Hunt as a reserve and letting Pacheco walk away.
This only changes if you are going to land a big name on the market and bring back Pacheco as the backup. Either way, the former starter appears unlikely to get his role back anytime soon and will be forced to fight for carries the rest of the season.
Pacheco's struggles have been a large reason for the offensive step back and why a reunion remains on thin ice. Still, it cannot be counted out entirely based on the hope that there is still something left in the tank and Pacheco is willing to sign a cheap deal to prove it.