Why isn’t Isiah Pacheco playing for the Chiefs against the Bills in Week 9? KC RB injury report

The NFL fixture computer has thrown up a sensational battle of two top teams as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 of the 2025 season.

However, fans are worrying over the fitness of running back Isiah Pacheco, who has been recovering from a knee issue that he suffered late in last Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders.

And now, head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that Pacheco’s absence is due to a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL), which has sidelined him from practice throughout the week. The team has described the injury as “week-to-week”, leaving the door open for a return later this month but eliminating any chance of him participating this weekend.

“You have to cut his legs off to stop him”

“We’ll just see. He’s moving around. But tough kid,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid revealed on Wednesday. “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.”

The timing could hardly be worse for Kansas City. Pacheco had begun to find his stride again after a rocky start to the year, serving as the main spark in the Chiefs’ game. Through eight games, he racked up 329 rushing yards and a touchdown and his aggressive running style had become a reliable complement to the skills of his teammates across the side.

This latest setback, however, is part of a worrying pattern for the 26-year-old. ‘Pop’ missed most of the 2024 season after suffering a fractured fibula in Week 2, and this new knee issue is another reminder of how demanding his physical style can be.

The Chiefs are also monitoring two other running backs on this week’s injury report. Brashard Smith, dealing with a toe issue, has been a full participant in practice and has contributed 25 carries for 75 rushing yards, along with 14 receptions for 122 yards this season.

Kareem Hunt, who has been managing an ankle concern but also practised fully and will likely replace Pacheco, has logged 62 rushing attempts for 245 yards and four touchdowns. “He’s probably in better shape, just in overall better shape, not that he was in terrible shape before‚” Reid said of the club’s 2017 third-round pick. “But he’s had a year to do it, and kind of get back in the swing after having a little bit of a layoff there.”

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The Kansas City Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, November 2, 2025, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on CBS.

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