Isiah Pacheco gets major injury update for Chiefs vs Bills Week 11

Isiah Pacheco quickly ascended as one of the primary options for the Kansas City Chiefs offense. The running back was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but by the end of that season, had eclipsed former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the leading back in Kansas City.

His progress throughout his career has been impressive. In just two years in the NFL, he already has 1,900 rushing and 428 receiving yards, along with 15 total touchdowns. Although he has no individual accolades to his name, he was a key part of the Chiefs' Super Bowl wins in 2022 and 2023.

However, his progress was hampered in 2024, as he suffered a broken fibula that kept him out since Week 2 of the season. However, a major breakthrough happened for him on Tuesday, as the Chiefs designated him to return to the active roster ahead of the Week 11 game against the Buffalo Bills.

He has played in two games and amassed 135 yards, with an average of 4.0 yards per carry. His lone touchdown came against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. The Chiefs are still undefeated in the 2024 season, with a 9-0 record and three games ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West.

Who has been leading the Chiefs' running offense in the absence of Isiah Pacheco?

For the first week without Pacheco, they went to undrafted free agent Carson Steele, but quickly turned to a former player of their own. Kareem Hunt, who was drafted by Kansas City and also played for the Cleveland Browns, signed with the team as a free agent.

Hunt was released by the Chiefs in 2018 after videos emerged of him punching a woman to the ground and kicking her. He faced no criminal charges and spent the next five years with the Browns.

In 2024, Hunt amassed 449 yards and a 3.6 yards-per-carry average in five games as a starter, along with five touchdowns. Curiously, the second player with the most rushing yards for the Chiefs in 2024 is quarterback Patrick Mahomes, with 167. Steele is third with 152, and Pacheco is fourth with 135.