Pacheco (fibula) has been designated to return from injured reserve by the Chiefs, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pacheco, who was placed on IR on Sep. 18, is now available to resume practicing with the team. He is returning from a fractured fibula, and has been eying a late-November return, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The running back's 21-day window will now extend to the end of the month, and it remains to be seen when Kansas City will officially activate him. Until then, Kareem Hunt figures to continue seeing the majority of touches in the Chiefs' backfield.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: May resume practicing soon
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Monday that Pacheco (fibula) is closing in on a return to practice, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports. "They're all close. JuJu closer than the other two," Reid said in regards to when Pacheco (fibula), wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) and defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) might resume practicing.
The Chiefs must designate Pacheco for return from injured reserve in order for him to practice for the first time since he fractured his right fibula back on Sept. 15. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the team is eyeing a return for Pacheco in late November, so getting on the practice field this week would mean his 21-day window extends through the end of the month. In the meantime, though, Kareem Hunt will continue to dominate touches out of Kansas City's backfield.
Pacheco (fibula) is expected to resume practicing in 2-to-3 weeks and is tracking toward a return from injured reserve in late November, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Pacheco has already spent the requisite four games on injured reserve, as the Chiefs deactivated him Sept. 18 after he fractured his right fibula in a Week 2 win over the Bengals three days earlier. The running back underwent surgery shortly thereafter and seems to have steered clear of any setbacks in the rehab process, but he'll still have a few more checkpoints to pass before the Chiefs integrate him into practices. Given the timeline laid out by Rapoport, Pacheco should be expected to remain sidelined for at least the Chiefs' next three games, which will extend Kareem Hunt's leash as Kansas City's lead option out of the backfield.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Not ready to practice
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While head coach Andy Reid noted Thursday that Pacheco (fibula) is "doing fantastic," the running back is not ready to return to practice this week, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
The report suggests that Pacheco -- who injured his fibula Sept. 15 -- is unlikely to practice next week, either, but that's not especially surprising, considering the initial estimate that he'd miss 6-to-8 weeks. With that context, as well as Reid's encouraging comments Thursday, in mind, it does seem that Pacheco could start inching toward a return to action in a couple of weeks or so, but for the time being Kareem Hunt will continue to lead Kansas City's backfield.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Goes on IR
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The Chiefs placed Pacheco (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Per Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site, Pacheco is slated to undergo surgery later Wednesday. Once the surgery is completed, the Chiefs could have a better idea of how much time Pacheco will miss, though Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday that the running back is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks. At the very least, Pacheco will be sidelined at least four games, leaving Carson Steele, Samaje Perine and Keaontay Ingram as the available backfield options on the 53-man roster. Meanwhile, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the reserve/non-football illness list and will be eligible for activation beginning in Week 5, and Kareem Hunt signed with Kansas City's practice squad Tuesday and can be elevated at any time.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Undergoing surgery this week
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Pacheco is slated to undergo surgery on his fractured right fibula in the middle of this week, which will require at least six weeks to recover from, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Pacheco's right leg was caught under a defender on the Chiefs' final possession during Sunday's win against the Bengals. He was seen in a walking boot afterward, and testing eventually revealed the diagnosis of a fracture and a prognosis of 6-to-8 weeks, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. In Pacheco's absence, the duo of Carson Steele and Samaje Perine likely will get the first chance to man Kansas City's field. As for other RB options, Clyde Edwards-Helaire must remain on the reserve/non-football illness list until at least Week 5, Keaontay Ingram and Emani Bailey reside on the practice squad, and Kareem Hunt is expected to visit the team.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Could miss 6-to-8 weeks
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Pacheco (fibula) is expected to miss in the range of 6-to-8 weeks, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
For his part, coach Andy Reid has already confirmed that Pacheco will miss Sunday's game against the Falcons, per Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star, while acknowledging that "it's going to take a little bit of time there" for the running back to recover from his fibula injury. With Pacheco expected to land on IR, Carson Steele and Samaje Perine are next up in the Chiefs' backfield pecking order, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire -- who is on the non-football illness list -- not eligible to return to the active roster until Week 5. The team also has Keaontay Ingram and Emani Bailey on the practice squad and plans to bring Kareem Hunt in for a visit.
Initial tests indicate that Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Pacheco left the stadium Sunday in a walking boot and crutches, and he looks poised to miss some time, although no official recovery timeline has been provided yet. Additional work in the Kansas City backfield will be available for Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Leaves arena in walking boot
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Pacheco (ankle) left the stadium in a walking boot and on crutches after Sunday's 26-25 win over the Bengals, and he will undergo additional tests on his ankle injury Monday, Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com reports.
Pacheco's tests Monday will clarify the severity of the ankle injury he suffered on his 24th and final touch of Sunday's nailbiting win. If the running back carries an injury designation into Week 3 against the Falcons, the pool of possible alternatives for his fantasy managers will be diminished since most games will have been completed by the time the Chiefs kick off on Sunday Night Football. Carson Steele and Samaje Perine, who combined for eight touches against Cincinnati, would be the top candidates to fill in if Pacheco misses any time.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Continues to lead backfield
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Pacheco remains in line to serve as the Chiefs' lead back in Thursday's season opener versus the Ravens, Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star reports.
With Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the reserve/non-football illness list and in line to miss at least four games, Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele are slated to work in complementary roles behind Pacheco to begin the season. While Perine is an adept pass-catching option and will have an opportunity to carve out a change-of-pace role with Kansas City, the newcomer is still getting up to speed with the team's playbook, so he might not be heavily utilized versus Baltimore. With that in mind, Pacheco is a candidate to see plenty of touches Week 1.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Efficient on three touches Saturday
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Pacheco rushed two times for 16 yards and brought in his only target for nine yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 preseason loss to the Jaguars on Saturday night.
The Chiefs' top back was out there with the rest of the healthy members of team's first-team offense for the opening possession, and Pacheco made good use of his opportunities. The third-year pro's efficiency with his three touches is right on brand for the explosive Pacheco, who's set to once again lead Kansas City's backfield in 2024 and perhaps improve on the 1,179 total scrimmage yards he recorded across 14 regular-season games a year ago.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Totals 92 total yards in Super Bowl
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Pacheco rushed the ball 18 times for 59 yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. He added six receptions (on six targets) for 33 yards.
Pacheco had a rough day on the ground, with his worst moment coming early in the second quarter when he lost a fumble at the 49ers' nine-yard line. He did manage a better performance as a receiver, including two receptions on the Chiefs' game-winning drive in overtime. Though it was an underwhelming performance in the Super Bowl, Pacheco proved capable of handling a workhorse role throughout the 2023 regular season, as he tallied career-high marks in both carries (205) and receptions (44) across 14 games. The Chiefs may add to the backfield this offseason, but Pacheco should keep a significant role in the offense in 2024.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Ready for Super Bowl
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers on Sunday.
During the first week of Super Bowl prep, Pacheco was contained to a pair of limited sessions and ended it with no designation for the big game. He proceeded to have no practice limitations this week, meaning he'll be good for his typical workload Sunday. Over the last five contests, including the Chiefs' three postseason wins, Pacheco has averaged 21.8 touches for 94.4 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown per game. Having said that, Jerick McKinnon (groin) is questionable for Sunday's game after the team designated him for return from IR this past weekend, so Pacheco could yield some passing-down reps to the combo of McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire this weekend if the former is activated Saturday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Limited in Thursday's practice
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
He was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated report but then managed to take part in Kansas City's first actual practice ahead of the Super Bowl. Pacheco handled 80 percent snap share and 28 touches in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, leaving little doubt he'll be ready for a matchup with the 49ers next Sunday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Getting in some work
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Pacheco (ankle/toe) appears to be practicing Thursday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Pacheco was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, but there isn't any real concern about the running back's availability for the Super Bowl after he played through the same toe and ankle injuries in a 17-10 win over the Ravens this past Sunday. In the process, Pacheco took 80 percent of Kansas City's snaps on offense and accounted for 28 of the team's 31 backfield touches.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Questionable for Sunday
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Ravens.
After being listed as a non-participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday, Pacheco returned to a limited session Friday and will thus head into the weekend with an official 'questionable' tag ahead of Sunday's 3 p.m. ET kickoff. Look for added context regarding the running back's status to arrive closer to game time, and if Pacheco ends up limited or out versus Baltimore, Clyde Edwards-Helaire would be next in line for added backfield touches for the Chiefs.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Not in line to practice Thursday
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Per the report, coach Andy Reid relayed that Pacheco participated in the team's morning walk-through, but the running back is slated to go down as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day Thursday. Pacheco thus has one more chance to get in some on-field work ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Baltimore, but unless he practices fully Friday, he figures to head into the weekend with an injury designation.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Good to go for playoff game
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Pacheco (shoulder) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Though Pacheco was active for this past Sunday's 13-12 win over the Chargers, he didn't put in a full practice in advance of the contest and ultimately didn't play any snaps in the regular-season finale. Since Kansas City had already locked up the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, Pacheco was likely just held out as a precaution, and his ability to put in a full practice Tuesday erases any doubt about his status heading into Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Dolphins. In Kansas City's previous meeting with Miami back in Week 9, Pacheco carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards while failing to haul in his lone target in a 21-14 win.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Doesn't appear in Week 18
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Pacheco didn't take the field during Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Chargers.
Pacheco wasn't listed among the inactives for the regular-season finale, but he may as well have been. He didn't take the field for a snap after both DNPs and limited practice sessions leading up to the contest. He essentially joined many of the starters sitting out Sunday's contest, with the Chiefs having already claimed the No. 3 seed in the AFC, regardless of the outcome of their game. The 24-year-old running back should reclaim the team's top spot on the running back depth chart heading into the wild-card round, where he'll square off against a Dolphins defense yielding just 97.1 rushing yards per game, seventh-fewest in the NFL.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Deemed questionable for Week 18
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The Chiefs list Pacheco (quadricep/shoulder) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
After his pair of injuries kept him from practicing Wednesday, Pacheco was able to return to the field as a limited participant for the Chiefs' final two sessions of Week 18. The running back looks to be reasonably healthy after logging his heftiest workload of the season -- 18 carries for 130 yards, seven catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on a 92 percent snap share -- in the Chiefs' Week 17 win over the Bengals, but don't expect Pacheco to be nearly as involved this Sunday. The Chiefs are locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and already plan to hold out numerous key players for rest or minor injuries, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle). Even if Pacheco avoids the inactive list ahead of the game's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, he may play only limited snaps while the Chiefs look to preserve their lead back's health in advance of the wild-card round. Reserves Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La'Mical Perine may be better bets to lead Kansas City running backs in snaps and touches in Week 18.
