After injuring his ankle during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington gave a “not-so-great” update on Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco after the game.
“In a not-so-great update, Pacheco is leaving the stadium on crutches and a walking boot,” Darlington wrote on X — formerly Twitter — on September 15. “And so Monday’s tests become all the more important.”
Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star added context to Darlington’s X post.
“Pacheco was emotional in the locker room, towel over his head with watery eyes,” he wrote. “Andy Reid came over to wrap his arm around him before his own podium interview. Pacheco was still walking in the locker room, so we’ll see what testing shows this week.”
Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest relayed that an Achilles injury isn’t believed to be a concern.
“Isiah Pacheco was very emotional after the game and a number of coaches and teammates offered him condolences including Andy Reid,” he wrote. “I’m told an Achilles injury is not suspected but more tests to be performed.”
This news came after Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave an update on Pacheco during his postgame press conference.
“The only major injury would be [Isiah] Pacheco with his ankle,” Reid said. “We’ll just have to see. He’s having some tests done on it now, x-rays, all that stuff. So I don’t have anything for you exactly what it is, but he came out with the ankle.”
Pacheco — who finished the game with a team-high 19 rushing attempts for 90 yards — suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter on a short-yardage play in which he was bent backward with his ankle caught underneath him. He limped off the field after the play and did not return to the game.
X Users Reacted to Isiah Pacheco Injury Update
X users reacted to Darlington’s update on Pacheco.
“Just gonna pray it’s an ankle sprain and it’s an annoying, pain management filled, few weeks and we complain about the RB depth a little bit, and not something more serious,” one person wrote.
“Isiah Pacheco’s ankle is under the microscope right now, like it’s starring in its own medical drama,” another person wrote. “Everyone’s holding their breath, hoping for a quick recovery and a return to action—fingers crossed that the sequel involves a speedy comeback!”
“Dudes a beast RB and Ill say it again as I said before it is not Mahomes that carries that Chiefs team ppl talk all about Mahomes when its Pacheco that carries that team,” another person wrote. “WHOOOOOO DEYYYYY! Hopefully Pacheco gets better quickly. Best of luck rest the season Chiefs.”
“It looked like the defender rolled onto his ankle. I suspect it’s an ankle sprain, but I guess we’ll hear more tomorrow with Andy’s news conference,” another person wrote.
“Weird he was jumping up and down on the sideline and looked happy during post game interview,” another person wrote. “But heard he was crying in lockeroom. Hope it’s precautionary and not serious. But also that adrenaline probably weared off and pain set in.”
