Isiah Pacheco injury update: Chiefs continue to hold running back out of action

For fans in Chiefs Kingdom anticipating the arrival of reinforcements to the active roster from some players who've been missing time due to injuries, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer. The Chiefs are being very careful in their handling of returning players, which means some of them will not be available on Sunday after all.

The Chiefs are scheduled to visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 for the second straight game on the road, but they'll take the field at Bank of America Stadium without their top running back or one of their best pass rushers.

The Chiefs are playing things ultra-careful with their lead running back.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Friday as the team had its final practice of the week before making the trip to Charlotte. In his remarks, he stated that running back Isiah Pacheco and edge rusher Charles Omenihu are both going to remain out for one more week with their respective injuries.

Both Pacheco and Omenihu have been able to participate in practice, and it stands to reason that if the playoffs were upon them, the Chiefs would let the players back into the fold. However, the Chiefs are the heavily favored team this week with a 9-1 record coming into town to play potentially the league's worst team. If there's a week where these assets aren't needed, this is it.

The Chiefs have been without Pacheco since Week 2 when he fractured his fibula. For Omenihu, it's been a long, steady climb back from a torn ACL suffered late last season.

Without Pacheco, the Chiefs will again rely on the tandem of Kareem Hunt and Carson Steele to move the chains on the ground. Pacheco has been the team's leading rusher for the last two seasons sbdd since they selected him out of Rutgers in the 2022 NFL Draft.