For the first time in years, the Kansas City Chiefs are in must-win mode down the stretch. Kansas City currently sits at 5-5 with a slim chance to win the division, having already lost to the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers once. This week, the Chiefs have a critical matchup against the 8-2 Indianapolis Colts. Significant injury updates were given on running back Isiah Pacheco and WR Xavier Worthy following Thursday’s practice.
Will Isiah Pacheco and Xavier Worthy Play on Sunday?
According to Pete Sweeney of the KC Star, Pacheco(knee) and Worthy(ankle) were both limited in practice on Thursday.
Pacheco’s change in status is the one that raises eyebrows. After returning to practice on Wednesday as a full participant, being downgraded to limited is never a good sign.
Although this doesn’t guarantee he won’t play, it does create some understandable concern about whether his knee is responding well enough as the week progresses.
Worthy, on the other hand, went from not practicing to being limited. The second-year wide receiver has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury all season and has played through it most weeks. So, there was no huge room for concern when he missed Wednesday’s practice.
Correction here on RB Isiah Pacheco (knee): The #Chiefs listed the running back as limited on Thursday after he was full on Wednesday. Xavier Worthy (ankle) and Kingsley Suamataia (concussion) were also limited. https://t.co/6FRYxCccHC
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) November 20, 2025
Meanwhile, Pacheco has been sidelined for the past two games with a knee injury. Although he wasn’t having a productive season before the injury, a return would at least get the backfield back to full strength.
According to PFSN’s running back impact metric, Pacheco is the 31st best back in the NFL with an impact score of 72.7
His on-field production this season backs that grade up. In eight games this season, Pacheco has rushed for 329 yards on 78 carries, scored one touchdown, and is averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
Despite his yards per carry being decently high, watching him play tells a different story. Early in the year, Pacheco was failing to hit open run lanes, which cost the Chiefs valuable yards. Additionally, he didn’t look as explosive coming off his broken fibula/tibia last season.
Still, even a less-than-elite version of Pacheco provides stability to a backfield that has struggled with consistency. With the Chiefs fighting to stay above .500, having both Pacheco and Worthy available for Sunday could be the difference-maker they need against a solid Colts defense.
