Eric Fisher talks about working through back pain to play for Chiefs

Eric Fisher spoke to the media this week about his recent back pain and his Pro Bowl season with the Chiefs.

Eric Fisher came into Week 16 designated as questionable on the Kansas City Chiefs’ official injury report, but then he went out and played every single snap on offense in a tough, physical road win over the New Orleans Saints. It was a tough, gritty performance, and it’s a good snapshot for why the Central Michigan product earned his second Pro Bowl nod in this 2020 season.

Last week, Fisher missed multiple practices due to back pain, a situation that was made even more tense for the team knowing that they were already missing two other offensive tackles—Mitch Schwartz and Mike Remmers—due to back injuries as well. If Fisher would have been unable to go on Sunday, it’s hard to say how things would have turned out.

For his part, Fisher wasn’t too interested in making himself into some sort of hero after the fact. In remarks to reporters on Wednesday, he spoke about the whole thing in a workmanlike manner and said he’s just one of several who are feeling the same at this point in the season.

"“Here are in Week 16 and obviously when you play every play of the season, you have a lot of wear and tear on the body and you just keep grinding through things. Obviously there’s adversity in every game for every position and every player. You just overcome that, keep on going, keep doing your job to the best of your ability and onto the next snap.“I don’t think anybody’s who’s played the entire season can say they’re 100 percent right now. It’s a long, grueling season, and everyone has things here and there that pop up. I take pride in being out there for the guys, being out there for myself, being out there for the team. Obviously I had a little back issue last week and fought through it and got the W and onto the next one.”"

Fisher has been an underrated staple for the Chiefs ever since Andy Reid first arrived in Kansas City. The Chiefs had the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and used it on Fisher instead of another offensive tackle, Luke Joeckel, who was considered to be the more pro-ready prospect. In fact, the Jacksonville Jaguars took Joeckel at No. 2 overall. Joeckel played in 39 total games for the Jags, and has been out of the NFL since 2017.

As for Fisher’s own record, he’s been a model citizen at left tackle with 112 starts for the Chiefs over the last eight years with the team. This year’s been been a reliable pillar for a line that has otherwise been subject to many changes, and he’s earned his second Pro Bowl nod in the process—his first coming back in 2018. Fisher might have made it three in a row if not for an 8-game stretch last season in which he was on injured reserve—the only meaningful injury of his career.