Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is 'all brakes, no gas' as he awaits injury clearance
With Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco the phrase typically goes "All gas, no brakes." During training camp, the 24-year-old has had to learn the exact opposite. Pacheco awaits clearance for full contact in practice after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. The second-year running back has been forced to wear a yellow […]
With Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco the phrase typically goes "All gas, no brakes." During training camp, the 24-year-old has had to learn the exact opposite.
Pacheco awaits clearance for full contact in practice after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. The second-year running back has been forced to wear a yellow non-contact jersey during practice and hasn't yet participated in full team practice periods. He's seen some repetitions during 7-on-7, but he's not on track for full clearance until later in August.
As he stands by, Pacheco says he is working to keep his competitive drive and energy high.
"Just finding the intensity to practice every day," Pacheco said. "That's just coming out with the energy. Having that energy, just being able to compete. When you love to compete, you're going to have a lot of energy showing out there."
Pacheco admits that some of his teammates have given him a hard time about having to wear the non-contact jersey at practice. He knows that it's his job to be out there and working on his game under any circumstances.
The second-year running back also knows that he'll bring his patented energy no matter what, even if he has to dial it back as he recovers from injury.
"They know they're going to get a lot of energy out of me," Pacheco said. "Whether I'm in the yellow jersey or the red jersey, you're still going to get energy."
Still, there are times when sitting back and watching on the sideline can lead to frustration. Pacheco tries to block those moments out by taking mental repetitions in practice.
"It's very frustrating," Pacheco said. "But when you're on the (sideline) you're just getting those mental reps. Just asking coach, 'What's this play?' Doing those mental reps in the back, it allows me to stay on top of my tasks."
Slowing down happens to be a big theme for Pacheco as he approaches the 2023 NFL season. The game, of course, has slowed down in his second year. He has a greater level of trust in himself, his teammates and his coaches.
Even as he tries to improve his own game, he says he's working to slow down the tempo, and really see the hole as a runner. The two-fold nature of learning that patience, in his injury recovery and on the field, is something keeping his mind at ease while he bides his time.
"Whenever they allow me to go, I'm ready to go," Pacheco said. "Whenever they tell me, I'm ready to go. Like I said, I'm going to keep working and finding those ways to get better."
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Featured image via Chiefs YouTube.
