Kareem Hunt among the Chiefs’ options at RB after losing Isiah Pacheco to injury

That diagnosis means the hard-running offensive energy giver will likely miss 6 to 8 weeks during the 2024 season. Pacheco will undergo surgery this week on his fractured fibula

You can Reid’s full comments on Pacheco in the video player above.

Another sign that the Chiefs may be making a move at RB is the release of TE Peyton Hendershot. After making his debut with Kansas City on Sunday, the TE’s release now opens up a spot on the active 53-man roster.

Here are some of the options the Chiefs may consider at running back going forward.

You can Reid’s full comments on Pacheco in the video player above.

Here are some of the options the Chiefs may consider at running back going forward.Re-signing previous Chiefs
Two possible replacements for Pacheco would be two free agents who have been with the Chiefs previously. Jerick McKinnon may be on the wrong side of 30 years old, but the former Chiefs RB remains available after spending the last three years with Kansas City.

Another move that makes sense, but carries considerable baggage, is Kareem Hunt. The 29-year-old is also unsigned after spending the last five seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hunt is expected to be in Kansas City for a visit on Tuesday.An ex-Los Angeles Charger and Denver Bronco who also made a pitstop with Kansas City in 2022, Melvin Gordon also remains available in free agency

Running back options on the roster
The team is already without one potential answer, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, for two more weeks as he works his way back from his own trip to the IR.

For at least the next three weeks, that means recent addition Samaje Perine is in line for an expanded role in the offense. Rookie fullback Carson Steele, despite fumbling on Sunday, is also likely to get some extra work in the Chiefs’ backfield.

Kansas City’s practice squad is full of relative unknowns. However, there are two running backs, Emani Bailey and Keaontay Ingram, who may be called up to the active roster in the wake of Pacheco’s injury

Potential running back trade targets
The Chicago Bears, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are all teams that have heavily invested in running backs over the past two seasons. Each of these three teams seemingly has at least one extra running back that front offices may be willing to part with for the right price.

Khalil Herbert or Roschon Johnson with the Bears, Raheem Mostert with the Dolphins, and Isreal Abanikanda with the Jets all make sense and wouldn’t cost high-end capital.

Other top free-agent running backs
These are some of the other names you might see floated out in the coming days if the team decides to sign a body off of the street.

Dalvin Cook
Latavius Murray
Alex Armah
Matt Breida
Eno Benjamin
Salvon Ahmed
Giovanni Ricci
Josh Kelley
James Robinson
Royce Freeman
Isaiah Spiller