The Kansas City Chiefs still won't be quite at full strength in the offensive backfield this Sunday when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. However, head coach Andy Reid sounded confident that the team might be nearly there with the return of some key players from the team's injured list.
The Chiefs have been perilously thin in the backfield for the last few weeks with multiple players missing. Jerick McKinnon has been dealing with an ongoing groin injury that finally earned him a stint on the team's injured reserve. With his loss, the Chiefs were already missing the best pass blocker and receiver of the lot.
Beyond McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco, the team's leading rusher, has missed a few weeks due to a shoulder surgery required to clean things up after undergoing an initial surgery there back in February. Beyond Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been dealing with an illness that has robbed him of practice time.
The Chiefs have elevated La'Mical Perine from the practice squad in the last couple of weeks in order to be ready but the Chiefs have clearly missed the full complement of options around quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially as the team's wide receivers have struggled to produce as hoped.
Fortunately, the Chiefs have listed both Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire as questionable to play and Reid sounded positive about having them available. Even the return of Pacheco alone would be good to see as the Chiefs try to get their offense in sync heading into the postseason.
Pacheco leads the Chiefs with 187 carries for 805 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns in 13 games on the season.