Lions send Pacheco to IR with MCL, back injuries

DETROIT -- The Lions have placed running back Isiah Pacheco on the injured reserve list, the team announced Tuesday. Pacheco was dealing with an MCL sprain in addition to a recent back injury that he suffered during training camp and will now miss at least four games before he's available to return. Detroit added Pacheco as a free agent this offseason to pair with star player Jahmyr Gibbs after trading veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Pacheco spent his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won two Super Bowl titles, but he suffered a broken fibula in his right leg in 2024 that robbed him of some of his explosiveness. Lions head coach Dan Campbell was hopeful that Pacheco would be available for Week 1 after suffering the back injury, as the 27-year-old tenacious runner was looking to get back on track in Detroit, but he will now have to wait to make his 2026 debut. "He's another one, I can't give you anything definitive. And he is feeling better as of yesterday," Campbell said on August 27. "I mean, it's been a little touch and go right now. He's had a little bit of a back and we're hoping he's coming out of this as of yesterday a little bit."