KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed back three significant players from injury on Wednesday, as wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster joined running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu on the practice field in preparation for their upcoming game against Buffalo.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid mentioned that there is a possibility Smith-Schuster could participate in the crucial matchup against the undefeated Bills. He has been sidelined since Week 7 due to a hamstring injury sustained early in a victory over San Francisco.
“We’ll see how things progress in practice,” Reid remarked. “If it’s up to him, he’s ready to play.”
The absence of Smith-Schuster, along with previous injuries to fellow wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice, were significant factors leading the Chiefs to make a trade with Tennessee for the talented DeAndre Hopkins. Although Smith-Schuster and Hopkins have similar playing styles, they also bring different assets to the field, and it’s possible they could share the field simultaneously on Sunday.
Regarding Pacheco and Omenihu, Reid expressed skepticism about their chances of playing in their first game back after returning to practice. Pacheco has been recovering from a fractured fibula, which he suffered in Week 2 against Cincinnati, requiring surgical intervention. His recovery timeline was initially projected at six to eight weeks, and his return is aligning with that schedule. However, with Kareem Hunt performing admirably since being signed right after Pacheco’s injury, the Chiefs are under less pressure to rush Pacheco back into action.
Hunt has been heavily utilized, amassing at least 21 touches in each of the last five games. Remarkably, despite not having a proper offseason or training camp, he has accrued 449 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with 14 receptions for 116 yards in his first six games with the team.
The Chiefs anticipate that Pacheco’s inclusion in the backfield in the upcoming weeks will help reduce the burden on Hunt, thus allowing both running backs to conserve energy as they approach the season’s final stretch. This arrangement might resemble the formidable duo of Hunt and Nick Chubb that the Cleveland Browns have benefited from for several years.
“I’m thrilled for him, and I know he’s eager to return. It’s going to create a strong backfield,” Hunt noted. “It could turn out very similar to what we had in Cleveland. I’m really looking forward to it—working alongside other talented backs.”
Omenihu has been on the physically unable to perform list since tearing his ACL during the Chiefs’ AFC Championship victory over Baltimore. In the meantime, Kansas City has been relying heavily on defensive players George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and they also added Josh Uche to bolster their pass rush through a trade with New England.
Omenihu was a significant contributor last season, recording seven sacks and forcing two fumbles in 11 games for the Chiefs.
“All players have unique recovery paths from injuries,” noted Brett Veach, the Chiefs’ manager, during a press briefing. “Healing varies by individual. The specifics of rehabilitation and bodily responses can differ dramatically. Some athletes return to action quickly, others need more time, ranging from several games to months or even a year. There are many uncertainties involved.”