The Chiefs pulled off a last-second win over the Bengals to move to 2-0 on Sunday, but it came with a cost.
Star running back Isiah Pacheco was seen teary-eyed in the locker room and left the stadium on crutches and a walking boot. Kansas City didn’t provide a full update, but reports are that he suffered a fibula injury that'll sideline him for 6-8 weeks. He’s reportedly set to undergo an MRI to determine whether he suffered a fracture, ligament damage or possibly both.
Pacheco’s played a key role in the Chiefs' back-to-back Super Bowl titles. He carried the ball 170 times as a rookie for 830 yards (4.9 YPC) with five touchdowns in 2022. He followed it up with another strong season, carrying the ball 205 times for 935 yards (4.6 YPC) and seven touchdowns in 14 games. Pacheco was off to another solid start to the year, running the ball 34 times for 135 yards (4.0 YPC) and a TD.
A big question now is where the Chiefs will turn.
They added Samaje Perine late this summer, while Carson Steele has been a feel-good story. They also have Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the roster, but he’s on the non-football injury list and isn’t eligible to return until Week 5 at the earliest.
Despite those options, reports are the Chiefs might be reuniting with an old friend. Kansas City is bringing former Chief Kareem Hunt in for a visit. He played two seasons for the Chiefs from 2017-18 before spending the last five years in Cleveland.
The Chiefs enter Week 3 as a 4.5-point favorite against the Falcons, who play Monday night against the Eagles. It marks their first road game of the year.
