Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has been on injured reserve since suffering a leg injury in Week 2 but is eligible to return beginning after this week’s game. When might the Chiefs’ RB1 be back?
What Is Isiah Pacheco’s Injury?
Pacheco was injured in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. After getting his leg trapped in the fourth quarter, he limped off the field.
This appears to be the moment of injury for Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. Andy Reid said Pacheco is undergoing tests. The back was seen leaving Arrowhead in a walking boot and crutches. pic.twitter.com/aPZpRe629X
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) September 16, 2024
Pacheco fractured his fibula on this play, and the Chiefs placed him on IR ahead of Week 3. Pacheco has remained there ever since, and we’ve gotten very little from the team in the way of updates…until just recently.
When Will Pacheco Return From Injury?
After going on IR, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Pacheco was expected to be out for 6-8 weeks. Obviously, Pacheco has been eligible to return for several weeks now, but we are now at the longer end of the projected timeline, and Pacheco doesn’t appear to be on the precipice of a return.
In fact, for nearly two months, we didn’t get a single meaningful update. Last week, though, head coach Andy Reid finally offered us this on Pacheco’s status.
Andy Reid said Isiah Pacheco is "doing fantastic," but that he's not ready to return to practice this week or likely next week.
Reid had a similar answer for Charles Omenihu.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) October 31, 2024
On Sunday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport had a more definitive update, suggesting that Pacheco would be back by “late November.”
From @NFLGameDay: The #Rams are expected to have WR Puka Nacua (knee) today despite an injury scare, while the #Chiefs eye a late-November return for Isiah Pacheco (broken fibula). pic.twitter.com/Mj3nVYQPtd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2024
While this is a positive development, the report isn’t that Pacheco will return in 2-3 weeks, but rather that’s when he’ll begin practicing.
Typically, injured players get back on the field no sooner than the week after they are designated to return from injured reserve. Using the 2-3 week projected timeline, if Pacheco gets back on the practice field ahead of Week 11 or 12, we shouldn’t expect him to play in a game until Week 12 or 13.
Given Kansas City’s success and a division title being all but a certainty at this point, it would not be surprising to see them be extra cautious with their RB1. With this in mind, there’s a chance Pacheco doesn’t see the field until Week 14 or 15.
How Has Pacheco’s Absence Impacted the Chiefs?
When Pacheco first went down, the Chiefs rolled with Carson Steele as their lead back and Samaje Perine in the passing-down role. That lasted all of one week before Kareem Hunt got up to speed enough to get in games. He then immediately took over as Kansas City’s clear lead back.
Hunt is still in a timeshare with Perine and Steele, but when he’s on the field, he touches the ball — a lot. Hunt is averaging 21 carries per game and should continue to see heavy volume despite his inefficient 3.67 yards per carry.
Even amid all the injuries the Chiefs have dealt with, they still haven’t lost a game. This is due in large part to KC’s elite defense and the wizardry of Patrick Mahomes, who, while not putting up the gaudy numbers we’ve come to expect, is doing what he needs to do to ensure the Chiefs win.
It would be really unfortunate for Pacheco to miss any of the Chiefs’ three cupcake matchups from Weeks 11-13. At the same time, Hunt’s fantasy managers would very much like him to retain the lead-back role, at least through those contests.
If and when Pacheco does return, expect him to start in a timeshare with Hunt before moving back into his clear RB1 role. At this point in their respective careers, Pacheco is a vastly more talented player. It wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if Hunt transitioned into the passing-back role in the process, relegating Perine to the bench.