Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Out vs. Bills with Shoulder Injury; IR Remains Possibility | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Jessica Hardy
Published Mar 23, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will miss his team's home game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday with a shoulder injury.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed the news to reporters Friday and added that an injured reserve stint is also possible for the second-year pro out of Rutgers, who didn't practice all week before being ruled out.
Pete Sweeney @pgsweenChiefs head coach Andy Reid on potential injured reserve stints for Bryan Cook and Isiah Pacheco: "We'll see." <br><br>The head coach said both Cook and Pacheco are still being evaluated. Pacheco's injury is to the same shoulder he hurt last year.
Pacheco, the Chiefs' RB1, has amassed 988 total yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. On the ground, he's managed 779 yards and six scores on 176 carries (4.4 YPA).
Without Pacheco, the team will turn to Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the starter, per Reid:
Charles Goldman @goldmctNFL<a href="">#Chiefs</a> HC Andy Reid said Clyde Edwards-Helaire would be the "No. 1 guy" with Isiah Pacheco ruled out this week. As I've been saying. Big opportunity for CEH to showcase ahead of free agency.
Jerick McKinnon figures to see more work as well.
Reid told reporters on Wednesday that Pacheco "came in with a shoulder contusion" and that he would get it checked.
Per Kristian Dyer of Rutgers Wire, Pacheco played in last year's Super Bowl win with both a torn labrum and broken hand, and he underwent surgeries after the season to address both issues.
Pacheco reportedly played much of last season with the torn labrum, and he suffered the hand injury during the AFC Championship Game.
Per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, this year's injury is to the same shoulder as last year's ailment.
The Chiefs will certainly miss Pacheco's tough and relentless running. He's tough to take down thanks to that attitude, and it's part of the reason why he ranks fifth in the league in rushing yards.
Kansas City will be without him for at least one week, however, as the team looks to protect its two-game AFC West lead with five games left. The good news is that the Chiefs don't play a team that currently sports a winning record for the remainder of the season, so they could potentially manage without the ex-Rutgers star.
Still, Kansas City is a better team with Pacheco, and the reigning Super Bowl champions certainly hope to get him back sooner rather than later.