Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (leg) could return from IR this week

Kansas CIty Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco could make his return from injured reserve and play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

But he and fellow return-from-IR candidate Charles Omenihu have some work to do, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday.

"We'll see. Kind of go through the practice week, see where we're at the end of this week, and we'll go from there," Reid said. "But yeah, just have to see. (It's a) day-by-day type thing."

Pacheco had 34 carries for 135 yards when he fractured the fibula in his right leg in a Week 2 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.

While the Chiefs opened the 21-day window for Pacheco and Omenihu last week, Reid immediately ruled out playing either one at Buffalo. He's keeping the door open for one or both to show they're ready to play in the Week 12 game in Charlotte, but he's not going to let Pacheco determine his return date without medical input.

"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."

Omenihu remains on the physically unable to perform list and is working toward a comeback from an ACL tear in the AFC Championship game.

Reid said injured wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who caused a stir by posting a clock emoji on his X account, isn't ready to practice.

"Making very good progress, (I) can't tell you when he'll be back," Reid said. "He's another one who is excited to get back out here and get going. So, I appreciate the way he's approached the whole thing."

Brown suffered a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint that sent him to the hospital from a preseason game in August.

--Field Level Media