Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu will not play against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. Reid says the players are "taking it day-by-day" with their respective injuries.
Charles Omenihu (knee) and Isiah Pacheco (ankle) won’t play on Sunday, per Coach Reid.
“Just taking it day-by-day,” Reid added.
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The Chiefs have been eagerly awaiting the return of Pacheco and Omenihu, both of whom have been sidelined for several weeks; at Week 12, Omenihu has yet to make his 2024 season debut. Both players returned to practice last week, and Reid noted that the days leading up to Week 12 would be critical in determining their availability.
The Chiefs are off to a strong 9-1 start this season, holding control of both the AFC West and the top spot in the AFC. Pacheco has been sidelined since Week 2 with a fractured fibula. The injury wasn't season-ending, allowing him to return sooner than expected. Still, Pacheco has been limited in practice since last week, likely as a precaution to avoid re-injuring the area.
Omenihu is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in the 2023 AFC Championship Game. Typically, ACL recoveries take up to a year, so it's a positive sign that Omenihu is ahead of schedule. However, the Chiefs are being careful with their star pass rusher, ensuring that he's fully recovered before making his return to the field.
The Kansas City Chiefs are no longer undefeated, suffering a hard-fought loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. Despite staying competitive in the first half and making a push in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs couldn't contain Josh Allen and the Bills' offense when it mattered most.
In a 30-21 defeat, the defending Super Bowl champions showed some vulnerabilities but also displayed flashes of promise. Although they remain in control of their own playoff fate, this loss will serve as a wake-up call, prompting the team to reassess their performance moving forward.
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Presumably, that is part of why Reid is playing it safe with Pacheco and Omenihu and not playing them in Week 12. The positive news is that even if Pacheco and Omenihu are unavailable for Week 12, they should be good to go for Week 13. The Chiefs face the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, followed by the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13.
Both games are favorable matchups for Kansas City, which could give the team more flexibility in taking a cautious approach with their injured stars. Given the winnable nature of these games, the Chiefs may opt to let Pacheco and Omenihu rest a bit longer to ensure they're fully recovered before returning to the field.
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