Report on injuries for Chiefs vs. Bills: Isiah Pacheco and three others are out.
The Kansas City Chiefs put out an official medical report before every game this season, every day of practice. The Buffalo Bills will be at Arrowhead Stadium this week on Sunday at 3:25 p.m. Heads Up Time.
The Chiefs said on Friday which quarterback Isiah Pacheco is out of their home game toward the Buffalo Bills because he hurt his shoulder.
Pacheco couldn’t play because he hurt his shoulder within the same place that he had surgery off-season to fix a torn labrum. He hadn’t practiced all week.
This season, the second-year quarterback has been involved in 176 carries, which is 57.8% for Kansas City’s rushing attempts. He has gained 779 yards and scored six scores on the ground in 12 games (11 starts).
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who has carried the ball 14 percent of the time, will be the team’s main running back on Sunday. He is third on the team in runs, behind Pacheco and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Andy Reid, the head coach, told reporters Friday that Edwards-Helaire was “the number one guy.” “He did a great job.” Clyde is a good kid. He’s done well when he’s had the chance to play.
Pacheco isn’t going to play against the Bills, and neither are back Bryan Cook (ankle), OL Donovan Smith (neck), or LB Drue Tranquill (concussion). Reid didn’t say when Pacheco and Cook would be able to return to the game.
“We’ll see,” Reid said when questioned if Pacheco as well as Cook could go to the injured reserve list because of their illnesses.
“Both of them are currently kind of under evaluation right now, so I can’t say anything upon that, since we have to see.”
Both Bills quarterback Josh Allen (right shoulder injury) as well as Mahomes (pectoral injury) are expected to play upon Sunday after having multiple full practices this week, even though they are listed as injured by their teams.
The Bills (6-6) lost 37-34 in overtime against the Philadelphia Eagles to Week 12 before their bye week, as well as the Chiefs (8-4) lost 27-19 for the Green Bay Packers last week. Both teams need to win badly.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire as well as Jerick McKinnon are two experienced running backs who can fill in for starters if needed.
Edwards-Helaire was the Chiefs’ first-round pick in the 2020 draft, but Pacheco took his starting spot last season. He hasn’t played much in 2023, but he has run for 140 yards and a score. Reid said that Edwards-Helaire would start on Sunday.
“There is no doubt that Edwards-Helaire will be ready,” McKinnon said. “Everyone in that room is ready.” He knows what that moment means to feed him when it’s time.
I have no doubt at all that he will go out there and do his thing. He’s ready for it. He has looked beneficial, and the chances he has had lately have helped himself stay focused, tough, and proud. I’m not expecting anything less on Sunday.”
Even though things haven’t been going smoothly this week, the Kansas City Chiefs are working hard to finish getting ready for their game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon.
Four players missed practice on Wednesday because they were hurt in different ways. That’s going to be the case for a second day in a row.
The nature for Pacheco’s arm contusion was announced by head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday, consequently the news is still pretty new.
The team says that running back Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), safety Bryan Cook (ankle), tackle Donovan Smith (neck), and defender Drue Tranquill (concussion) will not be able to practice on Thursday.
The most important player in that group is Pacheco, because it was clear after Week 13’s loss to the Packers in Green Bay that everyone else would be sick this week.