KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kareem Hunt’s veteran presence for the Kansas City Chiefs has been valuable in the running backs room over the last two seasons. That presence is expected to be asked for more production on Sunday, as Isiah Pacheco deals with a knee injury.
Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain after taking Commanders defensive back Trey Amos’ helmet to his right knee late in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s win over Washington.
On Wednesday, as the Chiefs opened practice ahead of an AFC Championship Game rematch with the Buffalo Bills, Pacheco did not practice. He’s viewed as unlikely to play, though head coach Andy Reid said he didn’t expect the injury to be a long-term issue.
“We’ll just see. He’s moving around but a tough kid,” Reid said. “There was a point where he wanted to go back in (Monday) and I wouldn’t let him. That’s how he’s wired. You have to cut his legs off to stop him.”
With Pacheco out, the Chiefs would turn to Hunt and rookie running back Brashard Smith for more production. Hunt’s already been productive this season, scoring five touchdowns for Kansas City through the first eight games, including two scores in Monday’s win.
“I feel the best I’ve felt the last three or four years,” Hunt told reporters Wednesday. “Body is feeling good.”
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, right, is congratulated by teammate Travis Kelce (87) after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)(Charlie Riedel | AP)
### READ MORE: [Report: Pacheco week-to-week due to knee injury](https://www.kctv5.com/2025/10/28/report-pacheco-week-to-week-due-knee-injury/)
Hunt, who was part of the Chiefs’ 2017 draft class along with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has the trust of Reid and Mahomes and knows how to be on the same page.
“Every time he’s in there it seems like good things happen,” Mahomes said of Hunt, who he found for a critical fourth-and-goal touchdown pass in the third quarter Monday night. “His track record speaks for itself as far as the way that he’s been able to play this year but in previous years as well.”
“I knew we got to get in the end zone,” Hunt said of his touchdown reception, “seen Pat scramble out to the right, and I just kept my eyes on him, tried to find a way to get open and get available and that’s what I did. Kept playing football.”
The 30-year-old running back is comfortable with Mahomes’ out-of-structure creativity on offense.
“He’s always keeping his eyes downfield. He’s always trying to make a play no matter where he’s at on the field,” Hunt said. “He can be one yard away from the out-of-bounds and he can throw a deep ball, anything, he’s always trying to make a play.”
Hunt signed a one-year deal with Kansas City over the offseason to remain with the Chiefs after joining the team last year following Pacheco’s fractured fibula suffered in Week 2 of the 2024 season.
“If his number is called, he’ll be ready for it,” Mahomes said.
Regardless of whether it’s Hunt, Smith or free agent signee Elijah Mitchell -- who’s yet to play this regular season -- they’d all be better off if Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith is back on the field after missing all of last week’s game and most of the week prior’s due to a back injury. Smith returned to practice Wednesday after Reid said he’d “give it a whirl.”
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