Chiefs To Be Without Isiah Pacheco Against Broncos In AFC West Battle

On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that running back Isiah Pacheco will not be available for the team’s Week 11 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to a knee injury.

Pacheco will be the only player out for Sunday’s game in Denver, according to their recent injury report update after Friday’s practice. It will be the second consecutive game in which Pacheco will miss, even with last week’s bye.

Unfortunately, even with full health, Pacheco hasn’t been a game-changer in the ground game. His 41.1 rushing yards per game this season is the lowest of his career. Splitting touches with running back Kareem Hunt, Pacheco’s season high rushing yards in a game is just 58. Those 58 yards came in his last game against the Washington Commanders, with it being his third 50+ yard rushing performance in a row.

It’s unfortunate to see Pacheco sidelined with an injury as he was putting together a good streak, but the Chiefs will have to take on their division rivals without their leading rusher. Hunt and rookie running back Brashard Smith will take on the extra touches in Pacheco’s place.

There is no current indication that Pacheco will make a trip to the injury reserve, leaving Chiefs fans hopeful of a return in the near future. Injuries have plagued Pacheco in the last couple of seasons, limiting the 26-year-old to just seven games last season after fracturing his fibula.

Despite the Broncos having three more wins this season than the Chiefs, Kansas City enters Sunday as the favorite. Denver has shown their inconsistency week in and week out, and against a Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid-led team, you can’t afford such inconsistencies. A win for the Chiefs would be huge in their ongoing hunt to reclaim the AFC West division title. The 5-4 Chiefs currently sit in third place in the division behind Denver and the 7-3 Los Angeles Chargers.

Kickoff on Sunday is set for 4:25 p.m. EST in Denver.