Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Fractures Fibula, Expected to Land on IR

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula in their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and is expected to miss significant time.

The Kansas City Chiefs' quest to make NFL history and win three straight Super Bowl titles hit a setback on Sunday, as running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a lower leg injury in the closing minutes of their 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The NFL Network reported that Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula, an injury that will likely sideline him for multiple weeks. The Chiefs are expected to place Pacheco on the injured reserve list, which would require him to miss at least four games.

Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Fractures Fibula, Expected to Land on IR

Pacheco's injury is a major blow to the Chiefs, who are already dealing with several other injuries. Wide receiver Marquise Brown is out for the season with a foot injury, and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is dealing with a knee injury.

Pacheco had a breakout year en route to consecutive Super Bowl titles. He had 830 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season and 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last year.

Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Fractures Fibula, Expected to Land on IR

He scored against the Baltimore Ravens in the team's 27-20 win in Week 1.

With Pacheco expected to miss significant time, Samaje Perine and Carson Steele will take on increased roles in the backfield.

Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Fractures Fibula, Expected to Land on IR

Perine is a veteran running back who has rushed for over 1,000 yards in his career. Steele is a second-year player who was a standout at California.

The Chiefs will also look to rookie running back Isiah Pacheco to contribute. Pacheco was a standout at Rutgers and was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Chiefs are hoping to get back on track after a disappointing performance against the Bengals. They will look to rebound when they host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Pacheco's injury is a reminder of the challenges that come with playing in the NFL. Injuries are a part of the game, and the Chiefs will have to find a way to overcome them if they want to reach their goal of winning another Super Bowl.

The Chiefs have a bye in Week 4, which will give Pacheco some extra time to recover. But even if he returns in Week 5, he will have missed at least four games.

The Chiefs will need to find a way to replace Pacheco's production in the meantime. Perine and Steele are capable running backs, but they are not as dynamic as Pacheco.

The Chiefs will also need to be prepared for the possibility that Pacheco misses more time than expected. If that happens, they could be forced to make a trade or sign a free agent running back.

For now, the Chiefs are focused on getting healthy and preparing for their next game. They are hoping that Pacheco will be back on the field soon, but they know that they need to have a plan in place in case he is not.