Lions Place RB Isiah Pacheco on Injured Reserve

The Detroit Lions placed veteran running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve Tuesday due to a back injury, sidelining the team's primary backup for at least the first four games of the 2026 season. The move marks another setback for Pacheco during an injury-plagued first summer with the Lions. Pacheco, 27, signed a one-year, $1.81 million deal with Detroit in March after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won two Super Bowls. The Lions brought him in to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans in March, breaking up the "Sonic and Knuckles" tandem of Montgomery and star running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco's time in Detroit has been hampered by injuries. He suffered a sprained MCL in early August, but head coach Dan Campbell expressed confidence he would be ready for the season opener on September 13 against the New Orleans Saints. However, while working his way back from that injury, a back ailment developed, prompting the team to place him on injured reserve. Under NFL rules, Pacheco must miss at least four games. The Lions worked out free agent Kareem Hunt last week but have not signed him.