Chiefs news: Isiah Pacheco gets timeline for contact

The Kansas City Chiefs have been allowing running back Isiah Pacheco to practice in limited participation for as long as training camp has been going. However, the guidelines in place to protect from aggravating a couple of previous injuries are set to be lifted soon.

Per a report from NFL reporter James Palmer, Pacheco was given a date of August 20 as the point at which he should be cleared for full contact on the field.

The Chiefs are expected to lean quite heavily on their second-year running back after such a strong performance last year in the second half of the season. After being selected in the seventh round, the Chiefs eventually handed the lead back role to Pacheco in a two-man tandem with Jerick McKinnon and Pacheco delivered in stride.

From Week 9 on, Pacheco averaged 14 carries and 70 yards rushing for the Chiefs (good for a 5 yards/carry average), and he added another 197 rushing yards in three postseason games. He did, however, play through a couple of injuries late in the postseason with both hand and shoulder concernrs. He had surgery following the season and came to camp with further rehabilitation ahead.

Despite the limitations, Pacheco has been full speed at practice in the areas that he can perform and the Chiefs remain quite positive about his state of readiness for the regular season. After a season in which he put up 170 carries for 830 yards and 5 scores, Pacheco made it clear he's ready for more responsibility if the Chiefs are ready to trust him with it.

Alongside Pacheco, McKinnon is also back in the fold for another season as is Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Rookie free agent Deneric Prince and La'Mical Perine are also in orbit at the position.