Chiefs keep healthy RB Isiah Pacheco on shelf till Black Friday

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is holding something special back for the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday.

Reid said Friday he won't put running back Isiah Pacheco on the field at Carolina on Sunday, when the Chiefs visit the Panthers for a Week 12 matchup, to give him more time to recover from a broken fibula. Because of the short week of preparation before Friday's game with the Las Vegas Raiders, Reid opted not to activate Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu to face the Panthers.

Reid said Thursday that the Chiefs, including input from trainers and offensive coaches, were already considering protecting Pacheco by taking the decision out of his hands this week.

"He's a spark plug now, emotionally," Reid said. "He's something that way, and he's worked his tail off to get to the point that he's at now. We've got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that's sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That's what's helped him get to this point."

Pacheco and Omenihu practiced the entire week.

With three more light practice days before the weeknight game, both players could return for the division clash on Friday.

Kareem Hunt, who is averaging 3.7 yards per carry as the primary ballcarrier during Pacheco's absence, remains the starter.

Pacheco was placed on injured reserve Sept. 18 with a broken fibula sustained in a Week 2 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Omenihu has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last year's AFC Championship Game victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Pacheco, 25, rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 54 yards in two games before the injury. He has accumulated 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts) since Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.

Omenihu, 27, had a career-high seven sacks in 11 games (one start) in his first season with the Chiefs in 2023. He has 18.5 sacks in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Kansas City. He was a fifth-round pick by Houston in 2019.

--Field Level Media