Signs have been pointing toward Kansas City Chiefs Isiah Pacheco returning from the MCL sprain he suffered in Week 8 on Thanksgiving. However, we no longer have to try reading the tea leaves because the team's head coach, Andy Reid, gave us confirmation.
Reid told reporters that Pacheco will be in the lineup when addressing the media ahead of Kansas City's Turkey Day clash with the Dallas Cowboys. This is massive news for a Chiefs squad coming off arguably their best offensive performance of the season ahead of a must-win interconference showdown.
With Pacheco set to rejoin the mix in Dallas, the Chiefs are welcoming back their starting running back. Whether he instantly steps into his pre-injury workload remains to be seen, though Reid indicated they might ease him in after missing the past three games. Nevertheless, just having the former out there bodes well for Kansas City, and it couldn't come at a much better time.
RB Isiah Pacheco set to return from injury for Chiefs' Thanksgiving showdown with Cowboys
Barring any setbacks in practice, Pacheco will be available against the Cowboys. But how much of a factor will he be?
"I can't tell you that right now," Reid said regarding Pacheco's usage. "We'll see how it goes."
It sounded more like Reid was unsure of what Pacheco would be capable of handling than trying to keep the Cowboys guessing, which is fair. After all, the latter is coming off a knee issue and will have been sidelined for a month when the Chiefs face the Cowboys.
Notably, Pacheco's role may be in flux following some recent developments in the Chiefs' backfield. Kareem Hunt is coming off a performance that made him the Chiefs' first 100-yard rusher in a game this season. The addition of free-agent signing Dameon Pierce also complicates matters, yet this newfound depth feels like a good problem for Kansas City.
Dallas had one of the NFL's worst rushing defenses through the first half of 2025, though that has changed drastically of late. Much of that stems from the acquisition of star interior lineman Quinnen Williams ahead of this year's trade deadline. So, having Pacheco should theoretically make life easier for the Chiefs versus the Cowboys.
Williams has been an immediate revelation for Dallas. They're allowing the fewest rushing yards per game and the fourth-lowest yards per carry in the two contests since his arrival. Pacheco has struggled in his fourth pro campaign, but he offers the Chiefs another option to try penetrating through the Cowboys' force up front.