The Chiefs will remain without their top running back for one more week, at least, as they visit the Bills in Week 11.
The Kansas City Chiefs can see the help coming on the horizon, with numerous contributors slowly but steadily making their way back to the field after missing weeks (or even months) of injuries. Unfortunately, it's going to be at least one more game for a couple of key faces the Chiefs are keen to get back on the field, which means they're missing a key battle for AFC supremacy in Week 11.
The Chiefs are scheduled to visit Orchard Park, New York to take on the Buffalo Bills in a game that has CBS excited for the ratings bonanza and fans coast-to-coast excited for the action. Yet both teams will be taking the field with several important players on the sidelines.
The Chiefs are already down a number of players long-term including wideouts like Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown as well as cornerback Jaylen Watson. The hope this week was that the team might at least get their top running back Isiah Pacheco back onto the field, but alas that's not going to happen. Head coach Andy Reid stated Pacheco would need to sit out this week.
The Chiefs activated Pacheco from injured reserve—at least to the 21-day practice window—along with pass rusher Charles Omenihu. Omenihu is still making his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season, while Pacheco has sat every game since Week 2 due to a fractured fibula. The good news for the Chiefs is that both players could return the following week to help bolster the roster on both sides of the ball.
For now the primary comfort when it comes to health for the Chiefs will come with JuJu Smith-Schuster's return from nearly a month away due to a hamstring injury. Smith-Schuster's last full game was Week 5 when he put up 130 yards on 7 catches. From there, the Chiefs had a bye in Week 6 and then Smith-Schuster left early during the team's game in Week 7.
On the Bills side of things, the team has already counted out wide receiver Keon Coleman (their top draft pick in 2024), tight end Dalton Kincaid, and linebacker Matt Milano. Given other long-term injuries, the Bills are nearly as thin as the Chiefs overall.
The Chiefs and Bills will take the field at Highmark Stadium at 3:25 p.m. CST.