While the primary stories around the Kansas City Chiefs' overall health late in the season have been positive, as many players have been able to return back from injuries (short and long term), the Chiefs did encounter a slight hiccup when it comes to Isiah Pacheco down the stretch.
As the Chiefs prepare for Week 18 against the Denver Broncos, a meaningless road trip for a 15-1 team that already has the AFC's top seed sewn up, head coach Andy Reid is making decisions on which players will suit up and which ones will rest. Pacheco will definitely be a player to rest.
The Chiefs' lead back, Pacheco suffered a rib injury in the team's game on Christmas Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Monday, Reid gave a brief update on player availability and specifically on Pacheco.
The Chiefs got some good news on Isiah Pacheco, although his stock will be something to watch in the days to come.
"Yeah, he'll be available playoff-wise. Yeah, he is tender. I probably should have mentioned that, but he is tender. I'll probably hold him back here this week in practice just a bit so he can be fresh and ready to go," said Reid.
Given that the Chiefs don't need to ask anyone to play any meaningful snaps until the weekend of January 18-19, that provides plenty of rest for Pacheco, who can rest easy knowing he's letting his teammates down or missing any reps in the meantime.
That said, this year is going to be one for Pacheco to largely forget on a personal level given that he's already been dealing with other injuries this year. Pacheco was already on injured reserve for most of the season with a fractured fibula from mid-September through the end of November.
Even as the Chiefs get underway in the Divisional round, however, Pacheco's condition will be something to watch. The team can also lean on Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine, and Carson Steele in his absence if the Chiefs need to rest him some more. But it sounds as if he should be okay as long as he focuses on recuperation in the meantime.