Will Isiah Pacheco Return from Injury for Chiefs vs. Cowboys? Andy Reid Gives Update

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, who has been out since suffering an MCL sprain in his right knee on Oct. 27 against the Washington Commanders, is set to return on Thanksgiving Day at the Dallas Cowboys.

The four-year veteran, who has spent his entire career with the Chiefs after they selected the ex-Rutgers star with a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has totaled 372 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in eight games this season.

Kareem Hunt has been the clear RB1 in Pacheco's absence. He rushed 30 times for 104 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.

Now Pacheco is back in the mix. He's been trending in the right direction for some time and practiced all week leading into the Colts game. However, Reid didn't want to play Pacheco twice in five days, per ESPN's Nate Taylor.

Pacheco will now have 10 days of rest to recover after the Cowboys game, as the Chiefs won't play again until Sunday, Dec. 7 at home versus the Houston Texans.

As for this Thursday, the Cowboys game presents a major matchup for the 6-5 Chiefs, who are fighting for their playoff lives right now. They are a full game outside the AFC wild card picture behind a trio of 7-4 wild card teams (the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars).

Kansas City has lost to all three of those teams, though, so it doesn't hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Chiefs do play the Chargers once more, though, on Dec. 14.

Ultimately, the Chiefs need to stack as many wins as possible at this point. Having Pacheco back alongside Hunt to bolster the backfield certainly helps.

Kickoff in Arlington, Texas' AT&T Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. ET.