The Lions spent this offseason building a two-headed backfield behind Jahmyr Gibbs, and the second head just took a hit. Isiah Pacheco, who signed with Detroit in free agency after four seasons with the Chiefs, is dealing with a sprained MCL that's already cost him 3 straight practice sessions.
Lions RB Isiah Pacheco sprained his MCL, but HC Dan Campbell believes his running back should be ready for the regular-season opener.
Adam Schefter's report matches what Dan Campbell has been telling reporters in Allen Park: it's a knee sprain, not a structural tear, and the belief internally is that Pacheco gets back on the field before Detroit opens the regular season. That's a meaningful distinction for a Lions team that gave up David Montgomery's role in the backfield specifically to bring in a bruising complement to Gibbs' speed.
Pacheco isn't the only injury note out of Detroit camp right now. Center Cade Mays, who signed a 3-year, $25 million deal this offseason, is also dealing with a significant wrist injury, and the two absences together have Campbell fielding a lot of questions this week about how thin the Lions can afford to get up front and in the backfield before games start to matter.
The Lions depth chart behind Jahmyr Gibbs: Isiah Pacheco (injured) Sione Vaki Jacob Saylors Raheem Blackshear
With Pacheco sidelined, the depth chart behind Gibbs is suddenly a lot less proven — Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors and Raheem Blackshear aren't names that strike fear into anybody, which is exactly why Detroit went out and signed a former Super Bowl champion running back in the first place. Pacheco pitched himself to the Lions as the physical, downhill piece to pair with Gibbs' burst, even joking he wanted a nickname like Taz to go with Gibbs' Sonic comparisons.
None of that plan changes because of a knee sprain in August — as long as it stays a knee sprain. Camp injuries are part of the calculus every team runs this time of year, and Campbell's public confidence suggests the Lions aren't panicking. But every practice Pacheco misses between now and Week 1 is one more rep going to a backfield still trying to figure out who its RB2 actually is.