Kansas City Chiefs star Isiah Pacheco has a broken fibula and is using a walking cast and crutches after suffering the injury during Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium.
As first reported by NFL Network’s Ian RapoportPacheco is expected to miss some time for the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions. An exact timeline for his return has yet to be determined, however, as the former Rutgers star has only undergone preliminary testing.
The injury apparently occurred with just two minutes left in the game, when Pacheco was bent over backward during a tackle by a Bengals player while another defender held his leg.
The drive ended with Harrison Butker hitting a game-winning field goal from 51 yards as time expired.
Pacheco had 19 carries for 90 yards on Sunday before being fouled.
Kansas City Chiefs star Isiah Pacheco has suffered a broken fibula, according to Ian Rapoport
Running back Isiah Pacheco arrives prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals
After Sunday’s win, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the team was awaiting test results but expected to hear bad news.
“The only serious injury would be Isiah Pacheco,” Reid said. “He’s undergoing tests right now — x-rays and things like that.”
Reid ultimately declined to provide specific information.
“I don’t really know right now. I just have to see,” Reid said. “They’re all in the middle of everything right now, so I haven’t really had a chance to talk to him or say anything about it.”
The win takes the Chiefs, two-time reigning champions, to 2-0 on the season.
The Chiefs are already without running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is reportedly struggling with PTSD from an undisclosed incident.
‘Sometimes I get admitted to the hospital and I can’t stop throwing up and it’s just, I [don’t] to know [anything] “We really have no desire to stop it,” Edwards-Helaire told reporters in August.
Without Pacheco or Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs are left with a backfield that includes the veteran Samaje Perine and 21-year-old rookie Carson Steele.