KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs plan to limit Isiah Pacheco this week as they prepare to visit Denver for their Week 18 regular-season finale, but coach Andy Reid expects his starting running back to be ready to roll when the team hosts its opening playoff game.
Pacheco suffered a rib injury in the team’s 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
“He’ll be available playoff-wise,” Reid said. “Yeah, he is tender. I probably should have mentioned that, but he is tender. I’ll probably hold him back here this week in practice just a bit so he can be fresh and ready to go.”
Pacheco played just 20 snaps against the Steelers with six carries for 18 yards before exiting the contest early in the fourth quarter with a rib injury.
A fractured ankle in Week 2 forced Pacheco to miss nine games. He returned in Week 13, and in seven games this season has rushed for 310 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, well below his career average of 4.5 yards. He’s also caught 12 passes for 79 yards.
D.J. Humphries “Doing Good”
When the Chiefs free agent D.J. Humphries, they hoped the ninth-year veteran might bring stability to their left tackle position. A hamstring injury in his first game with the club has kept him on the sidelines for the past three games, but Reid indicated there’s potential for his return this week.
“I want to get him out to practice and kind of see where we’re at,” Reid said. “But he is doing good in his rehab part. That’s different than being on the field, so I’d like to just see how he does there.”
Joe Thuney has filled in at left tackle in Humphries’ absence with Mike Caliendo moving into Thuney’s left guard spot. Reid says he will evaluate all three players in the weeks ahead.
“I’m gonna play it kind of by ear as we go here,” Reid said. “I’ve been happy with Caliendo and how he’s played. I’ve been happy with Joe how he’s played. I appreciate them jumping in and keeping the level of play up. I’m curious to see where D.J. is and if he can do anything.”
