The Kansas City Chiefs sounded the alarms with Isiah Pacheco in the win over the Washington Commanders. The former seventh-round pick sustained an injury in the fourth quarter, and he didn't return.
The initial results hinted at a multi-week absence for Pacheco. He already missed half of last season with a gruesome leg injury, so it seemed like this could've been the beginning of the end of his days with the Chiefs.
That was good news for rookie seventh-round pick Brashard Smith, who had been more involved in the offense lately. Unfortunately, Marleah Campbell of KC TV may have pumped the brakes on the Smith train.
Isiah Pacheco's Recovery Timeline Could Hurt Brashard Smith
"I don’t think so. We’ll just see how he’s moving around. Tough kid," Reid said when asked whether Pacheco’s injury is a long-term concern, Campbell wrote on X.
Smith and Kareem Hunt will handle the bulk of the load in Kansas City's Week 9 AFC showdown against the Buffalo Bills. Then, the Chiefs will enter their bye, giving Pacheco another week to get back to full strength and, ideally, make his return.
On top of that, Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports reported that the Chiefs could consider using veteran RB Elijah Mitchell. He has yet to play a single snap for the team, but Andy Reid sounds confident in his abilities.
Elijah Mitchell Could Also Get Some Snaps
"He had a severe injury at one point and a lot of guys wouldn't even come back from this thing... he battled back... You could see him get better with each week... I would tell you we all have confidence in his ability, for sure," Reid noted on Mitchell.
Smith, a wide receiver converted to running back during his lone season at SMU, has made a strong impression in limited snaps. With his secure hands, he looks like the team's best option in obvious passing situations and the two-minute offense.
Through the first eight games of the season, Smith's up to 75 yards on 25 carries. He also has 14 receptions on 18 targets for 122 yards. Having a crafty and sneaky player like him can make life easier for Patrick Mahomes in read-option plays, opening up the field for everybody else as well.
Hunt is aging, and Mitchell hasn't played in years. Unfortunately, though, it sounds like Smith won't have many weeks to prove to this team that he deserves a bigger role, even when Pacheco comes back from his injury.
That just means he'd better make the most of the opportunities that do present themselves between now and then.