The Kansas City Chiefs held their second practice of the week on Thursday ahead of their Week 14 tilt with the Buffalo Bills. 

For the second consecutive practice, four key players did not participate. The most notable of those four players is Chiefs starting RB Isiah Pacheco, who is dealing with a shoulder contusion. Keep in mind that Pacheco ended the 2022 NFL season with a labrum injury that required surgery. It's unclear if this shoulder is the same one that was surgically repaired. What is clear — Kansas City is being cautious with this injury. 

If Pacheco is unable to practice on Friday, who will be the team's starting running back in Week 14?

A backfield of CEH, Jerick McKinnon, and Deneric Prince?

Despite Jerick McKinnon returning to practice in a full capacity, I'm told that it was RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire who took the majority of the first-team snaps in practice on Thursday. Edwards-Helaire potentially has a big opportunity ahead of him after losing his starting role to Pacheco in Week 7 of the 2022 NFL season.

“His (Clyde Edwards-Helaire) speed looks good as far as his running between the tackles," Chiefs OC Matt Nagy said of Edwards-Helaire. "He’s been really, really good even mentally when you go through a transition, or you go through what he’s been through the last couple of years. He’s been a really good mentor and leader in the room, it starts there. Then when (he) gets on the field, is given opportunities, he makes the most of it. That’s what I respect the most about him. In these situations – the running back position gets hit quite a bit, so if you have an injury or you have somebody – next man up, you want to have a guy like Clyde ready.”

McKinnon would likely be the No. 2 back for Kansas City as he returns from nursing a groin injury. As for the No. 3 running back, Deneric Prince could be elevated from the practice squad for the second consecutive week. Prince did not play any snaps on offense or special teams despite being active in Week 13. 

The latest injury report from Chiefs practice:

Player	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday
RB Isiah Pacheco	Shoulder	DNP	DNP
S Bryan Cook	Ankle	DNP	DNP
LT Donovan Smith	Neck	DNP	DNP
LB Drue Tranquill	Concussion	DNP	DNP
RB Jerick McKinnon	Groin	LP	FP
WR Rashee Rice	Foot	FP	FP
LB Nick Bolton (IR)	Wrist	FP	FP
LB Darius Harris	Wrist	FP	FP
QB Patrick Mahomes	Pec	FP	FP
WR Skyy Moore	Knee	FP	FP
CB L’Jarius Sneed	Knee	FP	FP
WR Kadarius Toney	Hip	FP	FP

KEY: DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related

Observations:

• Jerick McKinnon was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. He was limited in each of the past three practices. 
• Nick Bolton notched his second consecutive full practice, paving the way for a Week 14 return. 

For more information on the Bills' injury situation, check here.

Chiefs’ path to victory on Sunday just got more complicated

The Kansas City Chiefs will be fighting a battle on two fronts in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills.