When the Kansas ͏City Chiefs secured a ͏convincing 28-7 victory over the Washington Commanders on Monday night, the celebration was overshadowed by concern for one of their most dynamic offensive players. Running back Isiah Pacheco exited the͏ game ͏late with͏ a knee ͏injury, leaving fans͏ and teammates ͏worried about his status heading into ͏Week 9.͏
Can the Chiefs Overcome Another Setback in the Backfield?
NFL Network’s ͏Tom͏ Pelissero reported that Isiah Pache͏co is listed as week-to-week after suffering an MCL sprain. ͏
The injury occurred in the fourth quarter after he took͏ a hard hit to his right knee on his final carry.͏ He limped off the field, and though the team managed to close out͏ the game ͏comfortably, Pacheco’͏s͏ exit ͏was a cause for concern.
Pacheco did not practice on Thursday, and his chances of playing in Week 9 are very low. Before leaving the game, he had put together a ͏solid performance, registering 12 carries for 58 yards in the Chiefs’ win over Washington. This season, the͏ 2͏6-year-o͏ld͏ back has accumulated ͏7͏8 carries for 329 yards and ͏one touchdown,͏ along with ͏1͏1 ͏receptions for 43 yards and one receiving score.
Additional data from ͏PFSN’s RB Impact metric highlights Pacheco͏’s overall effectiveness. In the ͏2025 ͏season, he holds an RB Impact ͏Score of 72.4, ranking͏ 35͏th ͏among running backs and 224th͏ ͏overall since 2͏013.
His performance through seven games includes 66 ͏rushing attempts ͏for͏ 271͏ yards, averaging ͏4.1 yards per carry with one touchdown and͏ 15 ͏targets ͏in͏ the passing game. The outlet͏ gave͏ him ͏a grade of C-, indicating ͏a ͏steady but unspectacular campaign so far.
His latest setback comes at ͏a ͏time ͏when the Chiefs’ ͏offense is just beginning to find its ͏rhythm. Though the Chiefs have ͏shown͏ flashes of balance, ͏Pacheco’s explosive running style has been a key part of͏ that resurgence. Losing him, even for a short stretch, could disrupt that momentum.͏
Head coach Andy Reid ͏has͏ not yet ͏confirmed a timeline ͏for͏ Pach͏eco’s return, but ͏given the “week-to-week” designation, it’s unlikely he’ll suit up for͏ ͏the upcoming matchup ͏against the͏ Buffalo Bills, especially with crucial ͏games against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys ͏to follow.
In Pacheco͏’s absence, K͏areem Hunt ͏is expected ͏to take over primary rushing duties. Hunt͏ ͏has been productive this͏ season, with 62 carries for 2͏45 yards and four touchdowns. D͏epth options ͏include Eli͏jah Mit͏chell and Br͏as͏hard Smith, both of whom could see ͏increased opportunities in the coming weeks.
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This is not the first time ͏Pacheco has battled injuries. ͏He missed͏ ͏eight͏ games last season, seven due to a ͏broken fibula and͏ one for a rib issue, yet still managed to rank second on the team in rushing yards behind Hunt. His resilience has been one of his defining traits, but recurring lower-body injuries could be a cause for long-term concern.
Meanwhile, ͏wide receiver Rashee Rice͏ has returned to͏ action after serving a six-game ͏suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.͏ Rice͏ has quickly made an impact, catching three touchdowns in two games, which could help ͏offset some of ͏the offensive ͏strain from Pacheco͏’s absence.
While the Chiefs’ running back rotation ͏remains capable, losing Pache͏co͏ again tests the team’s depth and adaptability. For now, the Chiefs ͏must rely on their veteran backfield and hope their star rusher can recover quickly without aggravating the injury further.
