Pacheco (back) underwent surgery Monday and is expected to be out for a significant amount of time, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Pacheco was already on injured reserve, but he's looking at a lengthy recovery. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the running back is expected to be sidelined 12 weeks, giving him a "chance" to return sometime in December. With Pacheco sidelined Week 1 against the Saints, Jahmyr Gibbs handled 29 of the team's 31 backfield carries, turning them into 156 yards and two touchdowns. Gibbs also caught all five of his targets for 30 yards and played 57 of 77 offensive snaps. Sione Vaki played 22 snaps on offense but touched the ball just three times for 18 yards. Gibbs cemented himself as the premier player in fantasy football.
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Lions' Isiah Pacheco: Without timetable for return
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Lions GM Brad Holmes said Wednesday that Pacheco (back) doesn't have a clear timetable for return, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
Pacheco was placed on injured reserve with his back issue and will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. It sounds like his absence could extend beyond Week 5 when he's first eligible to play. In the meantime, Jacob Saylors looks like the direct backup to Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield. Gibbs could see some heavy snaps this season after the departure of steady veteran running mate David Montgomery over the offseason.
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Lions' Isiah Pacheco: Moving to injured reserve
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The Lions placed Pacheco (back) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Pacheco joined Detroit in March on a one-year contract to serve as Jahmyr Gibbs' primary backup. Pacheco initially missed time during training camp due to a sprained MCL before a back injury now will force him to miss at least the first four games of the campaign while on IR. Currently, the Lions roster Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small as options to spell Gibbs from Weeks 1-4.
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Lions' Isiah Pacheco: Picks up back injury
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Pacheco's knee injury, per head coach Dan Campbell, is not a concern, but he is now dealing with a back injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Pacheco has been out of action with an MCL sprain, and although he seems to have moved past the knee issue he is now dealing with another injury. Campbell noted that Pacheco was feeling better Wednesday, but further details were not provided, so it's unclear if the latest setback will affect his availability for Week 1.
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Lions' Isiah Pacheco: Out with MCL sprain, should play Week 1
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Pacheco is dealing with a sprained MCL, but head coach Dan Campbell believes he will be ready for Detroit's season opener against New Orleans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It's unclear how Pacheco sustained the injury, but it will confine him to the sidelines for the time being. Pacheco's absence will open up some reps for the other running backs on Detroit's roster, but if he recovers as anticipated he remains the clear favorite to back up Jahmyr Gibbs (back) in Week 1.
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Lions' Isiah Pacheco: Being signed by Lions
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Pacheco has agreed to terms on a contract with Detroit, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Pacheco fits into the Lions' backfield alongside superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs, replacing David Montgomery. In his first two seasons with Kansas City, Pacheco averaged 4.7 YPC and scored 12 rushing TDs in 31 regular-season game as a bruising between-the-tackles runner. In part due to injuries, however, the 2022 seventh-round pick has now logged back-to-back seasons with less than 500 rushing yards and under 4.0 YPC, with only two rushing scores in 20 regular-season contests. Pacheco could rebound in Detroit with opposing defenses honing in on Gibbs, but he may not see the same touch volume that Montgomery did.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Not playing in Week 18
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Pacheco (rest) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.
Pacheco turned in a trio of limited practices during Week 18 prep before heading into the weekend with a questionable tag, and the fourth-year pro's inactive status is now official. Pacheco's absence Sunday will leave the Chiefs' ground attack in the hands of Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith and Dameon Pierce, with the latter garnering active status for the first time during his short tenure in Kansas City.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Nine carries in Week 17 loss
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Pacheco rushed nine times for 32 yards and wasn't targeted in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Pacheco saw two more carries than backfield mate Kareem Hunt but gained six fewer yards. The fourth-year back was stymied more frequently than even his 3.6 yards per carry suggests, as outside of a 13-yard game-long run, Pacheco netted just 19 yards on his other eight rush attempts. The Rutgers product will be looking to snap an unfavorable streak in the Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders to close out the season, one that's seen Pacheco fail to clear 40 rushing yards in five consecutive games.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
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Pacheco just had his best game of the season in Week 16 at Tennessee with 13.5 PPR points. He had eight carries for 34 yards and six catches for 41 yards on seven targets. His role in the passing game could continue if Rashee Rice (concussion) is out again in Week 17 against Denver, especially with a third-string quarterback in Chris Oladokun starting for the Chiefs in place of Patrick Mahomes (knee) and Gardner Minshew (knee). We could see a lot of check downs to Pacheco, who will likely get more playing time than Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith. Pacheco is worth using as a flex option in all leagues against the Broncos.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Leads backfield in Week 16 loss
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Pacheco carried the ball eight times for 34 yards and caught six of seven targets for 41 yards in Sunday's 26-9 loss to the Titans.
Kareem Hunt saw only three carries on the day, and one of them turned into a two-yard loss for a safety in the second quarter. As a result, Pacheco saw his biggest touch volume since Week 7 and put together season-high numbers as a receiver. The Kansas City offense is in shambles with Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew going down with knee injuries in consecutive weeks, leaving Chris Oladokun as the likely starting QB for what's left of a lost season. With the team already eliminated from playoff contention, the veteran Hunt could be phased out of the offense, with Pacheco and even 2025 seventh-round pick Brashard Smith seeing more work over the final two weeks, including in a Week 17 battle against the Broncos.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Quelled by Texans
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Pacheco recorded nine carries for 30 yards during Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Texans.
Pacheco's workload ramped up a bit in his second game back from injury, but he was still limited to nine touches after seeing just five a week ago versus the Cowboys. Kareem Hunt has handled a heftier workload in both contests. That split isn't guaranteed to continue, but Pacheco and Hunt should both see their fair share of totes with Andy Reid seemingly committed to getting his run game going. It doesn't get much easier for Kansas City with the Chargers and Broncos on the schedule in two of the next three games.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Just five touches in return
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Pacheco carried the ball three times for 16 yards and caught both his targets for 17 yards in Thursday's 31-28 loss to the Cowboys.
After missing the prior three games due to a knee injury, Pacheco was back in action but found himself firmly behind Kareem Hunt in the backfield pecking order, as the veteran turned 15 touches into 80 yards from scrimmage. Hunt's recent success appears to have solidified his spot at the top of the depth chart, and Pacheco -- who has yet to reach 60 rushing yards in any game this season -- will likely struggle to make an impact on limited volume Week 14 against the Texans.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Hopeful for Week 13 return
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Pacheco (knee) is optimistic that he'll be able to play Thursday against the Cowboys, though the Chiefs have yet to make a final decision regarding his status, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Pacheco has been sidelined since Week 8 with a sprained MCL but returned to practice ahead of Kansas City's Week 12 matchup against the Colts. He logged an additional estimated full practice Monday, which seemingly sets him up to return on Thanksgiving afternoon against the Cowboys. However, a short week complicates his outlook a bit. Even if he is active, Pacheco would likely still be in a split backfield with Kareem Hunt, who has operated as the primary back in Pacheco's absence.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Ruled out for Week 12
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Coach Andy Reid ruled out Pacheco (knee) for Sunday's game against the Colts, Jesse Newell of The Athletic reports.
Pacheco has been sidelined since Week 8 due to a sprained MCL, but he was able to practice fully Wednesday and log a limited session Thursday, marking the first notable progress in his recovery. Reid also told Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com that Pacheco didn't have a setback, and his return to practice this week was "literally to see where he's at." Pacheco thus will turn his focus to a Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas, while Kareem Hunt will continue to lead the Chiefs backfield this weekend.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Limited practice Thursday
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Pacheco (knee) was limited at practice Thursday.
After being listed as a full participant Wednesday, Pacheco -- who is still sporting a bulky brace on his right knee -- per Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com, was deemed limited a day later. With that in mind, it's possible the running back's downgrade in participation level was indicative of load management rather than a setback, with Friday's final injury report slated to add further context with regard to Pacheco's chances of returning from a two-game absence Sunday against the Colts.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Full participant in practice
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Pacheco (knee) was a full participant Wednesday in his return to practice.
He thus appears ready to return for Sunday's matchup with Indianapolis after missing the past two games due to a knee sprain. Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports that Pacheco had a large brace over his right leg/knee during Wednesday's practice, but it apparently didn't stop the running back from being a full participant. Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith still figure to have roles, with Pacheco typically limited to fewer than 15 touches even when he's starting and working as the lead runner.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Returning to practice
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Pacheco (knee) is slated to practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Pacheco last saw game action in Week 8, but the running back's looming return to practice has him trending in the right direction as Sunday's game against the Colts approaches. The Chiefs' upcoming practice report will clarify Pacheco's official participation level Wednesday after he missed six consecutive sessions dating back to Week 9.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Pacheco (knee) remained a non-participant at practice Thursday.
Pacheco is still hampered by the knee injury that kept him out of action in Week 9 against the Bills. Kansas City was previously optimistic that a Week 10 bye would provide sufficient time for Pacheco to heal, but he's trending toward remaining sidelined Sunday against the Broncos, in which case Kareem Hunt would likely retain the lead role in Kansas City's backfield. Pacheco would probably need to practice in some capacity Friday to have any chance of playing Sunday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Still not practicing
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Pacheco (knee) won't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
It's not a great sign that Pacheco -- who was inactive in Week 9 -- will miss the Chiefs' first practice coming off a bye, but the running back will have two more chances to return to work before injury designations are posted for Sunday's game against the Broncos. In his absence during the Chiefs' 28-21 loss to the Bills on Nov. 2, Kareem Hunt paced Kansas City's backfield with 11 carries for 49 yards and a TD, adding one catch for six yards, with Brashard Smith (three carries) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (two carries) mixing in.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Should be back Week 11
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Pacheco (knee), who is out for Sunday's game against the Bills, should be back after the Chiefs' Week 10 bye, Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports reports.
Per Wolfson, coach Andy Reid indicated that Pacheco avoided a serious injury, which gives the running back a chance to return to action Nov. 16 against the Broncos. In his absence Sunday, Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are expected to carry Kansas City's backfield load, with Elijah Mitchell a candidate to be active versus Buffalo as well.
