As the Kansas City Chiefs get back to work, a huge Week 12 outing against the Indianapolis Colts looms. Fortunately for them, they’re getting a big-time boost on the practice field.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, head coach Andy Reid provided an updated injury report. While left guard Kingsley Suamataia (concussion) won’t participate and wide receiver Xavier Worthy (ankle) is iffy, one other offensive piece is set to work soon.
Per Reid, running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) will return to practice this week.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco Returning to Practice This Week
When Pacheco officially returns to work, it’ll be his first practice since suffering a knee injury in Week 8. Late in Oct. 27’s 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders, the fourth-year man sustained an MCL sprain. That held him out of Week 9’s 28-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills before the bye, as well as Week 10’s 22-19 defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos after it.
Leading up to the aforementioned Denver game, the writing was on the wall. Pacheco’s lack of early-week involvement gave him an uphill battle to be able to play. After that, the team ruled him out on Friday following Reid’s press conference.
The veteran halfback also missed games last year due to a fractured fibula and has dealt with hand/wrist and shoulder injuries in the past. Other bumps and bruises have followed Pacheco in his career as well.
Pacheco, 26, was the Chiefs’ seventh-round pick back in 2022. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to replicate his sophomore breakout from 2023. A year ago, he played in seven games and averaged 3.7 yards per carry. After his return from injury, he didn’t look the same.
In eight contests this year, the Rutgers product has 78 carries for 329 yards and a touchdown. His 59% success rate marks a career-high, although his 4.2 yards per touch is dangerously close to 2024’s 4.1 average. Per SumerSports, among 53 halfbacks with 50+ carries, Pacheco’s -0.08 EPA/rush ranks 37th. That’s despite him seeing the lowest number of defenders in the box (6.85).
Could Kansas City’s Halfback Room Use a Pacheco Return Soon?
The state of the Chiefs’ run game can be deceiving, depending on the metric used to evaluate it. For instance, they’re third in EPA per rush, but that’s heavily influenced by quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ scrambles. Their pure (read, designed) runs don’t fare nearly as well.
Pacheco is a major part of that, as his vision is inconsistent and he isn’t the most patient option. The rest of the rotation, headlined by Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith, must also be taken into account. Finally, the scheme — both in regards to blocking and play design — hasn’t always come to the team’s aid.
Even with Mahomes’ scrambles mixed in, the Chiefs rank 23rd in rush rate at 40.5%, via NFL Pro. While their 10.4% clip of runs “stuffed” is the lowest in the league, their halfbacks also struggle to generate explosive plays at a historically poor rate. Hunt is a tremendous short-yardage back, but he’s just that. He doesn’t break off chunk rushes, nor does Pacheco, especially at the regularity either back did years ago.
Smith turned heads earlier this year, yet he’s clearly not ready for full-time duties or anything remotely close. His 39.3% rush success rate and 2.9 yards per carry indicate that he has growing to do. The wideout-turned-running-back is a longer-term project. Sunday’s loss to Denver, when he drifted too far upfield on a critical late-game passing play, served as an example of that.
To be frank, Kansas City needs to be better on the ground. Should Pacheco return in Week 12, perhaps that’d mark a step in the right direction.
Chiefs Get Massive Development With RB Isiah Pacheco’s Injury