Chiefs HC Andy Reid keeping plans at running back a mystery with Isiah Pacheco ruled out for Week 9 vs. Bills
Kareem Hunt is expected to start, but what will the Chiefs’ other options at running back look like?
The Kansas City Chiefs will be without starting RB Isiah Pacheco for Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills after he suffered an MCL sprain in the final minutes of Week 8 against the Washington Commanders.
Chiefs veteran RB Kareem Hunt is expected to get the start in place of Pacheco, but beyond that, the team’s plan at the position remains somewhat of a mystery. Some expect rookie RB Brashard Smith to get more involved, but Andy Reid’s recent comments cast a shadow over that. Others believe that 2025 free agent acquisition Elijah Mitchell will be active for the first time this season. The team could also elevate one of Carson Steele or Clyde Edwards-Helaire from the practice squad.
Which way will the team go in this pivotal AFC matchup against the Bills?
Will Chiefs RB Elijah Mitchell be active for the first time in Week 9 vs. Bills?
Chiefs HC Andy Reid isn’t too keen to give up any sort of advantage he might have when it comes to revealing his personnel plans ahead of a game. Keeping things mysterious forces teams to prepare for every possibility, so it’s no surprise that he’s not showing his hand with the running back position for Week 9 against the Bills.
Asked about the possibility of Elijah Mitchell being active for the first time this season, Reid kept things as vague as possible.
“We’ll see how that all works out there,” Reid said. “We haven’t made any decisions on what we’re going to do there. He’s (Elijah Mitchell) handled everything great. He works his tail off.”
It’s unlikely that Mitchell gets the Ronald Jones treatment from Kansas City and remains a healthy scratch, but it’s not impossible. Consider that Carson Steele was on the active roster, getting carries a season ago, plays special teams, and plays a very similar style of game to Isiah Pacheco. He could easily be the choice for Kansas City at the No. 3 running back spot. There’s also Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who had the best game of his career against the Bills at Highmark Stadium back in 2020, rushing for 161 yards on 26 carries.
It’s not definitive that Mitchell is the best option here, despite being the lone option on the 53-man roster. What the team does with their practice squad elevations on Saturday could well signal their plans.
Chiefs 2025 Running Back Options
- 53-man roster: Isiah Pacheco (injured)
- 53-man roster: Kareem Hunt
- 53-man roster: Brashard Smith
- 53-man roster: Elijah Mitchell
- Practice Squad: Carson Steele (FB)
- Practice Squad: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
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