Isiah Pacheco’s move away from Kansas City was supposed to give him a fresh start, but his latest injury has already put a damper on that plan.
Pacheco signed with the Detroit Lions this offseason after leaving the Chiefs, a move that made sense on paper. With Jahmyr Gibbs already entrenched as the starter, Pacheco wouldn’t be asked to carry the full load, and he’d have a chance to work under Dan Campbell in a system that could help him get back on track.
That reset has hit an early snag. Adam Schefter reported that Pacheco sprained his MCL, though the expectation is that he should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
For Detroit, that softens the blow. For Pacheco, it’s another reminder of how injuries have shaped the last stretch of his career.
The wear and tear has been relentless. Pacheco missed two games in 2023 with a shoulder injury, then sat out eight games in 2024 because of a concussion and rib injury.
In 2025, an MCL sprain cost him four games. This latest setback is another MCL issue, and that’s the part that has to concern the Lions most.
Kansas City already moved on. Brett Veach signed Kenneth Walker to take over as the star running back, and Walker arrived fresh off being named Super Bowl MVP in February. The Chiefs are hoping he can provide the kind of spark that Pacheco and Kareem Hunt weren’t able to consistently deliver in recent years.
Even with the departure, Pacheco won’t be forgotten in Kansas City. He was a key part of the Chiefs’ teams in 2022 and 2023 and helped them win two Super Bowl titles. Chiefs fans will still be pulling for him, even if he’s doing it in Detroit now.
For Pacheco, the mission is simple: stay on the field and give his career a real second wind.
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