Sportsnaut
The Kansas City Chiefs have popped up in a few NFL trade rumors this season, with the club connected to some of the top edge rushers believed to be available. However, with Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline closing in, a recent injury has slightly adjusted the approach by the Chiefs front office.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Kansas City is “drilling down a little more at running back” following the recent Isiah Pacheco injury suffered in Week 8 versus the Washington Commanders.
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Late in the Monday Night Football victory over Washington, Pacheco suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter with his leg caught underneath him when he was taken down. Listed on the Chiefs injury report for Week 9, Pacheco didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday and seems unlikely to suit up for Sunday’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Even before the injury, NFL rumors in early October suggested Kansas City had interest in acquiring a running back. Kareem Hunt has been an effective short-yardage back and rookie Brashard Smith has been an acceptable pass-catcher out of the backfield, but this Chiefs’ offense could use an effective ball-carrier to improve the run game moving forward.
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Previously, running back Breece Hall seemed like one of the more realistic NFL trade candidates who could move by Nov. 4. However, with Braelon Allen injured, Hall’s recent success now reportedly has the New York Jets thinking more seriously about signing him to a new deal this offseason.
One alternative could be Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 308 attempts from 2023 to 2024. Kansas City had also been in the market for defensive line depth, but the recent signing of Mike Pennel could push the front office more toward acquiring a running back by Tuesday.
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