In yesterday’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, KC’s star running back Isiah Pacheco was injured late. On a second down run with just under two minutes to go, Pacheco was stopped for a short gain and bent over backward by two Bengal defenders. He hobbled off the field and quickly went down to the ground once he got to the Chief’s sideline.
After leaving the stadium in crutches and a walking boot, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Pacheco will “miss real time”. The initial tests said that Pacheco fractured his fibula. These types of injuries could take around six weeks to recover from depending on the severity. He will undergo more testing today to see how much damage occurred.
With Pacheco likely landing on IR, the Chiefs have limited options for their new starting RB. Clyde Edwards-Helaire who has started for the Chiefs in the past, is also on injury reserve meaning more reps for guys who have not started games in Kansas City.
The Chiefs will look to Carson Steele, their undrafted fullback out of UCLA to get a large sum of the carries. They also signed Samaje Perine this offseason, who has experience starting games for the Bengals and could be a dynamic playmaker in their backfield. It also would not surprise me if KC looks to pick up free agent Jerick McKinnon, who is very familiar with Andy Reid’s system and has won two Super Bowls with Mahomes and Co.
