Don’t hold your breath for Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco’s return after Andy Reid’s most recent update.
The Chiefs coach told reporters that Pacheco, who was given a six-to-eight-week timeline to return from a broken fibula, could potentially miss the remainder of the season.
“I can’t give you a time when he’ll return,” Reid told the media. “We’ll just see if it’s this season or next season. We’ll see how he does as he goes here.”
The two-month timeline would’ve put Pacheco back around Thanksgiving but even that could be wishful thinking.
NFL Network later reported that there was no ligament damage found for the Chiefs’ star running back.
Pacheco received 15 of the 20 Chiefs’ carries in a Week 1 win over the Ravens and 19 of 32 in a victory over the Bengals last week.
Pacheco suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s contest.
Carson Steele, a 21-year-old rookie, and veteran Samaje Perine are next in line to take over the workload.
The Chiefs also signed a familiar face in Kareem Hunt to work his way into football shape and perhaps reclaim his role as the top running back for Kansas City.
“We’ll get him in here and get some work,” Reid said of Hunt. “Kind of get him back in the swing of playing. Then we’ll just see as the game gets closer. … Try to get him in a position where he’s ready to play either this week, next week or the following week.”
Hunt had a dynamic start to his career in Kansas City before a video emerged of him assaulting a woman in a hotel that led to the team releasing him in 2018.
He was suspended eight games the following season upon signing with the Browns and has played in Cleveland for the past five years.
“He needed a change of scenery and get some help and take care of business there,” Reid continued on Wednesday. “We felt like he did that. He did a nice job in Cleveland and we talked to people there, and there were no issues there.
“We felt okay by bringing him back, he’s 29 years old now. It looks like he’s grown up some,” Reid said.
Regular backup Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the PUP list due to a battle with PTSD, and it is unclear when or if he will return in 2024 as well.