Arrowhead Pride
Two returning players are returning at a good time for the Chiefs.
We’re headed into Week 13 of the NFL season, long enough in the campaign to accumulate injuries throughout the roster of the Kansas City Chiefs. There have been too many to name, but they don’t last forever.
Running back Isiah Pacheco has been missed but is on the verge of returning to the Chiefs’ offense. He was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, the first of the week in preparation for the Friday game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
During his press conference on Tuesday, quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked forward to having Pacheco back.
“He’s going to be pumped,” Mahomes told reporters. “He’s going to have energy, he’s going to want to be on the football field, but I think it’s good that we have a good room of running backs that we can not make him go out there and take 30 carries or whatever it is. We can just let him be who he is and make those big plays happen.”
Running back Kareem Hunt has carried the load since Pacheco broke his fibula in Week 2. He has carried the ball 116 more times than any other Chiefs back in that stretch and has helped the team maintain the NFL’s number-one ranking in rushing success rate (47.9%).
The run game can still lean on Hunt, and that’s a luxury for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. He acknowledged the benefit of having two dependable backs to use during his press conference on Tuesday.
“The best part about that is you don’t just have one getting worn down where they might be 50 or 60% in the third quarter,” Nagy told reporters. “You have two guys that are working off 100%, and they’re both really good players with experience that know this offense.”
“When they’re up and running, we feel pretty strong about who they are and how much they can help us. We’re excited about it.”
Pacheco will look to boost the Chiefs’ offense, but defensive end Charles Omenihu is arguably more needed on the other side of the ball. The veteran pass rusher has recovered from the torn ACL suffered in last year’s AFC Championship game.
The post following his full participation in Tuesday’s practice speaks for itself.
Omenihu’s anticipation is self-motivating, but that energy can spread to his teammates. Defensive tackle Chris Jones is looking forward to getting Omenihu’s talents back on the field.
“Charles’ versatility going inside and out adds another level of depth to our defense,” Jones remarked during his press conference on Tuesday. “He’s a pass rusher, so it’s always good to get more pass rushers on the field and acquired so we can get the quarterback down eventually.”
Last season, Omenihu finished the regular season with six consecutive games earning at least half a sack. In the postseason, his sack of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson created a crucial turnover in an effort to win the AFC title.
Defensive coordinator...
