Is Isiah Pacheco playing this week? Chiefs RB’s status explored for Wildcard Round game vs Dolphins

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco missed Week 18's game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a shoulder injury. The Chiefs rested the majority of their key players for that game, and their star running back was one of them.

Pacheco has missed three games this season and has been dealing with a shoulder injury for weeks. Will he play in the Wildcard Round game against the Miami Dolphins? Let's take a look at his status:

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Is Isiah Pacheco playing against Dolphins?

Isiah Pacheco: Cincinnati Bengals v Kansas City Chiefs

As per reports, Isiah Pacheco is fully healthy and will play in the Wildcard Round game against the Dolphins. Given that the game between the Chiefs and the Dolphins will be one of the coldest ones in NFL history, the defending Super Bowl champions will rely on Pacheco as the running game will be more effective.

In 14 games this season, the 24-year-old running back has 205 carries for 935 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry and also has 44 receptions for 244 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 49 targets.

The Kansas City Chiefs played the Dolphins earlier this season in Germany and won the game 27-20. In that game, Pacheco rushed for 66 yards on 16 carries while averaging 4.13 yards per carry.

The Dolphins will be without multiple star players on defense like Xavien Howard, Bradley Chubb, Jerome Baker, Andrew Van Ginkel as well as Jaelan Phillips, and that could allow the Chiefs to dominate them. The Dolphins' defense is giving up an average of 23 points and 97.1 rushing yards per game this season, and Isiah Pacheco is certainly more than capable of having a big game against them.

With Jerick McKinnon still on the IR, the Chiefs will heavily rely on Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the Wildcard Round.

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