Isiah Pacheco Injury Update, Latest News on Lions RB's Status Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

The Detroit Lions will be relying on starting running back Jahmyr Gibbs more than ever to start the 2026 season.

The Lions announced on Tuesday that backup running back Isiah Pacheco has been placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least the first four games of the season. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Pacheco is dealing with a back injury.

Pacheco signed a one-year deal with Detroit in March after spending the first four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, with whom he won two Super Bowls. His signing came after the Lions traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, breaking up the "Sonic and Knuckles" tandem between him and Gibbs.

A seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Pacheco showed promise early in his career with over 1,700 rushing yards across his first two seasons. He suffered a fractured fibula early in the 2024 season and hasn't been the same since, finishing the 2025 campaign with 118 carries for 462 yards and one touchdown.

Still, the Lions were hoping that a healthy Pacheco would be able to take the load off of Gibbs, who is already one of the top workhorse running backs in the league. Gibbs signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $75.5 million last month, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

Without Pacheco available, the Lions will have Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors spell Gibbs from time to time, but it's safe to say that the three-time Pro Bowler will be getting the lion's share of the carries to start the season.