On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs will get a boost to their offense and defense. Injured starters Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu will return to the 53-man roster before their AFC West showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals, starting running back Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula on the game’s final drive. His surgery and recovery are complete, and he’ll be available Friday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The combination of Pacheco and Kareem Hunt should be a fascinating Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid partnership that could wreak ball control havoc on opposing teams. Further, with both tackles Wayna Morris and Jawaan Taylor struggling in pass protection, they could gain some confidence playing smash-mouth football.
If successful, the combination would force opposing defenses to support the run and worry less about the past. That would allow Quarterback Patrick Mahomes to use more play-action possibilities that could result in big plays downfield.
Charles Omenihu will return to the defense on the other side of the ball. He tore his ACL against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game, and his ten-month return to the team is impressive. He even documented his rehab in a series he created on YouTube called The Journey.
The return timing is good news for the 10-1 Chiefs. Both could make an impact once their bodies adjust to the rigors of playing football again. Though they’ve been practicing for weeks, we won’t know how they’ll bounce back until they face another team.
Still, expectations are high for both. Remember, their goal for the next six games is to get into playoff shape physically and make plays along the way before the Super Bowl chase begins. The Chiefs have been decimated by injuries, and getting some bodies back is a good thing.
Next month, Kicker Harrison Butker will return, and Receiver Hollywood Brown will return to the team. All returning walking wounded could make an impactful entrance, which could be a scary provision for the resistance in the AFC.
