Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco to miss time with fractured fibula: report

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a significant loss the day after Sunday’s walk-off win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport posted to social media that running back Isiah Pacheco fractured a fibula, according to initial tests. The Chiefs running back, who had 19 carries for 90 yards on the ground and another 21 yards receiving, suffered the injury on the Chiefs’ final drive of the game.

“I don’t have a timeframe on Pacheco,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on a conference call with reporters later Monday, “but I know it won’t be this week, and he’ll probably be more than that. So obviously, it’s going to take a little bit of time there.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday afternoon that Pacheco is “expected to miss approximately 6-8 weeks.”

Pacheco was seen leaving Arrowhead Stadium in a walking boot and using crutches, shortly after Harrison Butker kicked a 51-yard field goal with no time remaining to lift the Super Bowl champions to a 26-25 victory over the Bengals. Pacheco was hurt on the first play of that final possession when he plunged forward into the offensive line and appeared to roll his ankle.

Pacheco, who has been part of the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams, ran for 45 yards and a touchdown in their season-opening win over Baltimore, and he had 90 yards rushing and a score before leaving Sunday’s game.

“I haven’t seen him today but I talked to him twice last night, so I think he’s in a better place than he was,” Reid said. “Here’s a guy that loves to play the game. He had tears. He was emotional. But you don’t ever want to lose it. It’s an emotional sport, and that kid — nobody likes to play more than he likes to play.”

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The Chiefs, who put wide receiver Marquise Brown on injured reserve last week because of impending shoulder surgery, were already short-handed at running back. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the non-football illness list and must miss two more regular-season games before he can return to the active roster.

Undrafted rookie Carson Steele, who had seven carries for 24 yards but also lost a fumble on Sunday, and Samaje Perine, who signed with Kansas City on Aug. 30 and played just nine snaps against the Bengals, are the only other active running backs.

Keaontay Ingram and Emani Bailey are available on Chiefs’ practice squad.

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