The Detroit Lions just announced that backup running back Isiah Pacheco is heading to injured reserve, a move that rules him out for at least the first four games of the season. Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Monday that Pacheco is expected to miss a “significant amount of time” after undergoing back surgery, a tough blow for a team trying to start strong.
The Jahmyr Gibbs Workload Has Already Begun
This immediate impact of Pacheco’s absence hit in Week 1, and wow, did Jahmyr Gibbs shoulder the load. The Lions pulled off a tight 31-30 overtime victory against the New Orleans Saints, and Gibbs was an absolute beast, running for 156 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 29 carries. Think about that: 29 carries for one guy in the first game of the season. Sione Vaki managed just two carries for seven yards, and Jared Goff scrambled twice for two yards, but that was it for the Detroit running attack. It’s clear Detroit is relying on Gibbs more than ever right out of the gate, and that’s a lot of pressure for anyone, even a three-time Pro Bowler.
What Detroit Lost, and What It Cost
Pacheco’s arrival in Detroit this past March on a one-year deal was supposed to be a major boost, taking some of the heat off Gibbs. After trading veteran David Montgomery to the Texans and breaking up that “Sonic and Knuckles” tandem with Gibbs, the Lions needed a proven back. Pacheco fit the bill, having spent his first four years with the Kansas City Chiefs and grabbing two Super Bowl rings. He showed serious promise early, racking up over 1,700 rushing yards across his first two seasons. But a fractured fibula early in the 2024 season derailed him, and he finished the 2025 campaign with just 462 yards on 118 carries and one touchdown. Still, the hope was a healthy Pacheco could be that perfect complement. Now, that plan is gone, and the Lions have to lean almost entirely on Gibbs, who just signed a massive three-year extension worth up to $75.5 million, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. With Vaki and Jacob Saylors as the only other options, Gibbs is definitely getting the lion’s share of the carries.
The next four games are going to be a real test for the Lions and that high-priced backfield. Can Gibbs maintain that kind of workload without breaking down? Can Vaki or Saylors step up and provide some meaningful relief, or will it be 29-plus carries for Gibbs every week? It’s a huge question for the Lions’ early season momentum, and every carry from here on out will be watched closely.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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