Isiah Pacheco injury update: Andy Reid unsure if Chiefs RB will return this season after fibula surgery

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but lost one of their best offensive players, running back Isiah Pacheco, who left the stadium in walking boots after suffering a lower leg injury.

Pacheco was placed on the injured list and will apparently miss more than the four-game minimum, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. According to ESPN, Pacheco was expected to miss 6-8 weeks. However, Andy Reid painted a very different picture on Wednesday, announcing that Pacheco underwent surgery on his broken right fibula and could miss the rest of the season.

“I can't give you a time frame for when he'll be back,” Reid said on KCTV5. “We'll just see if it's this season or next season.”

The possibility that Pacheco could miss the rest of the season is potentially a significant development. The two-time Super Bowl-winning running back has been a key part of Kansas City's offense since arriving as a seventh-round draft pick in 2022, and has more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage in 2023.

“We're going to go with the guys we have now” to replace Pacheco, Reid said Monday via The Athletic, referring to Carson Steele, Samaje Perine and Keiontay Ingram. “I don't have a timetable for [his return]. It will take some time.”

Reid also added that general manager Brett Veach would explore adding another running back to the roster, and Kansas City has since signed Kareem Hunt, who played for the Chiefs in 2017 and 2018 before spending the last few seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

The Chiefs also have former first-round draft pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the roster, but he will be out until at least Week 4 due to his illness on the Non-Football Illness List (NFI).