What happened to Isiah Pacheco? Chiefs RB suffers gruesome injury vs Bengals

Isiah Pacheco has been a powerful runner for the Chiefs offense as they have won the Super Bowl for the last couple of years. His ability to take the ball into contact and still make yards makes him invaluable. It gets them rushing yards and keeps the defense honest to block against the run, opening up play-action passes and disguised quarterback runs for Patrick Mahomes.

But his penchant for physical running might have backfired in the Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had a great game but was injured in the fourth quarter after he was tackled in the backfield and his leg was twisted beyond what is normal. He was immediately hobbling and was taken off for the last few drives of the game.

Later updates said that it was probably an ankle injury and that he was being evaluated. Head coach Andy Reid said he was getting tests and X-rays but there is no update yet on how long, if at all, he will be it. But the situation did not look ideal as he was spotted leaving the stadium in a boot and walking on crutches.

In addition to that, we have reports of how Isiah Pacheco himself seemed emotional in the dressing room. While he himself does not know the extent of the injury, it does take something potentially serious to move such a strong player to tears, especially after a game that resulted in a 26-25 victory for his team.

Who replaces Isiah Pacheco for the Chiefs after Bengals injury?

If Isiah Pacheco has to miss significant time, and one hopes that is not the case, then Samaje Perine is expected to start instead just as he did toward the end of the game against the Bengals. Carson Steele had a few touches as well, and he is third on the depth chart for the Chiefs as a running back.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire might return after Week 4 and become an option but he is currently on a non-football injury list after he recently came clear on his ongoing struggles with PTSD.

If Isiah Pacheco has to take significant time off, he will be the second Chiefs player this week to be ruled out for the long term. Wide receiver Marquise Brown is undergoing shoulder surgery and is slated to miss the rest of the regular season. For any other team, such a slate of injuries could become debilitating. But as he showed against the Bengals too, no team that has Patrick Mahomes is ever the underdog.