“We’ve got some other guys too who can make plays… I’m prepared for whatever I’m asked to do,” Hunt told reporters on Wednesday, as quoted by Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.

After taking a scary hit on his right knee during the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Monday night win over the Washington Commanders, Pacheco is considered “week-to-week” with an MCL sprain.

This leaves his status for Week 9 up in the air, making the Chiefs look at a scenario where they potentially miss Pacheco to visit Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. But according to Hunt, Reid and Mahomes can trust in the rest of the Chiefs’ RB room.

Hunt has already proven the Chiefs he can replace Pacheco

While losing Pacheco would certainly be a huge blow for the Chiefs’ offense, it wouldn’t be an uprecedented situation for Reid and Mahomes. Kansas City went through something similar—but worse—last year, when a fractured fibula forced Pacheco to miss multiple games in the 2024 NFL season.

It was an early challenge for the Chiefs, yet they responded incredibly well. Pacheco’s injury led to the team bringing back Kareem Hunt, who shined in his return to Kansas City after spending time with the Cleveland Browns.

Hunt led the Chiefs in carries (200), rushing yards (728), and rushing touchdowns (7) in 2024, proving to be a dependable weapon for Reid and Mahomes. When Pacheco recovered, the team knew it had a solid duo of running backs.

In 2025, the Chiefs have primarily relied on Pacheco to run the ball, with the Rutgers product leading the way in carries (78) and rushing yards (329). Hunt, however, has also had his fair share of snaps with 62 carries for 245 yards and four touchdowns. Besides, the veteran RB has rushed for more first downs than any other Chiefs player so far (23).

Hunt isn’t underestimating the Bills’ defense

With Pacheco’s return date unclear, the Chiefs may need to turn to Hunt just like they did in 2024. His performance has been encouraging thus far, so Reid and Mahomes should have no reason for concern.

Besides, the Bills’ defense has been struggling on the ground, allowing 1,052 rushing yards and 150.3 rushing yards per game in the 2025 NFL season. This could set up the perfect situation for Hunt to rise to the occasion.

Still, Hunt isn’t underestimating their opponents, who showed an improvement in their recent 40-9 win over the Carolina Panthers: “I know it’s going to be like a playoff atmosphere… we’re going to have to really lock in and be on the same page.”

Who else could get more reps in KC apart from Hunt?

Besides Hunt, the Chiefs could give more playing time to free agent signing Elijah Mitchell and rookie Brashard Smith in the event Pacheco stays on the sidelines. The practice squad includes fullback Carson Steele, who got plenty of reps before Hunt’s return in 2024, and former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who hasn’t suited up in a while.

Hunt believes the Chiefs are in good hands despite Pacheco’s setback, but with the November 4 trade deadline getting close, Sunday could represent a huge test to the strength of Kansas City’s RB depth.

One of Andy Reid’s main concerns heading into this crucial matchup at a pivotal point in the season was the availability of one of his star running back’s. Now recovered from a knee injury, Kareem Hunt is available to play if the head coach decides to activate him.

According to reporter Pete Sweeney on his official X account (formerly Twitter), Hunt practiced normally on Saturday alongside the rest of the team, making it clear that he feels healthy and ready to take the field.

It’s undoubtedly great news for the Chiefs’ coaching staff, which hopes to see its offense take center stage on Monday night. Mahomes and company are determined to keep the win at home and continue their strong pace in the AFC West.

What injury was bothering Hunt?

Kareem Hunt’s recent injury concerns have thankfully subsided, with the veteran running back officially cleared for action for Monday’s primetime matchup. Hunt had been managing a bone bruise in his knee and an ankle issue after being rolled up in the last game but returned to full participation in practice, signaling he is ready to go for Week 8.

The RB’s impact on the Chiefs’ offense

While sharing the backfield, veteran Kareem Hunt remains an indispensable short-yardage and goal-line weapon for the Chiefs’ offense. Through seven games this season, Hunt has tallied 53 carries for 205 yards (3.9 YPC) and is responsible for three rushing touchdowns, demonstrating his essential role in punching the ball into the endzone for Kansas City.

Closing the gap with the Broncos

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) are facing a crucial Monday Night Football matchup, needing a decisive victory to avoid falling further behind in the AFC West race. The division-leading Denver Broncos have surged to a 6-2 record, giving them a 1.5-game cushion over the Chiefs entering Week 8.

With a prime-time audience watching, Kansas City cannot afford a slip-up against the Commanders, as a loss would put the Chiefs two full games back and jeopardize their bid to reclaim the top spot in a suddenly competitive division. The Chiefs must lean on their potent offense and stellar defense to secure a much-needed win and stay firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth.

In an effort to improve the team’s running game after a lackluster campaign, the Chiefs signed former San Francisco 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell early in free agency before selecting Brashard Smith in the 2025 NFL Draft.

This will put some pressure on Hunt, who despite leading the group in his return to Kansas City in 2024, will once again have to prove his worth in a crowded RB room that also continues to count on Isiah Pacheco.

Hunt shows excitement about Chiefs’ RB room for 2025

Hunt, however, doesn’t seem to have any problem with the Chiefs adding at running back. Instead, the 29-year-old let Reid and Mahomes know that he’s excited about the new group that is preparing for the 2025 NFL season.

“Good man, I like him [Brashard Smith] a lot,” Hunt said at a press conference on Thursday, via Sports Illustrated. “You know, a guy that is very versatile and you know quick, good speed, and you know I like him so far for sure.

“I think we have a strong group. I am excited to you know work with these guys and you know see everybody at full and get offseason and be able to come out there and help this team.”

Hunt looking forward to having full offseason with Chiefs

Hunt enjoyed a productive return to the Chiefs in 2024, when he made his way back to Arrowhead after spending months in free agency. With Pacheco fracturing his fibula in Week 2, Reid and the front office felt it was time for a reunion.

“It feels good to get this spring work in and, you know, tune up for training camp,” said Hunt, who was drafted by the Chiefs in the same year as Mahomes (2017) before being cut in 2018, which led him to spend five years with the Cleveland Browns. “So you know it feels good.”

“It is going to help me get my body in shape, you know, hitting and grinding out those long tough days, and you know, training camp. That is what helps you get through the season … I like having a summer, but it is all good, you know what I mean, that is football … I love the guys, I love the stuff, I love everyone all around.”

However, the team may have to make tough decisions in order to get back to the top. According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, Mahomes and Kelce could lose running back Kareem Hunt due to salary cap reasons.

“After he led the team in rushing last season, the Kansas City Chiefs opted to bring back Kareem Hunt on a one-year, $1.5 million deal,” Knox wrote. “However, Kansas City also signed Elijah Mitchell before drafting former SMU running back Brashard Smith, who has intrigued the front office. Assuming Isiah Pacheco is back to pre-injury form, Hunt could be the odd man out. Releasing him would save Kansas City $632,353 in cap space.”

Kareem Hunt’s impact with the Chiefs in 2024

Of course, parting with Hunt would be a surprising decision by the Chiefs considering the impact he made under Reid in his return to Kansas City in 2024. Last year, Hunt led the team in rushing with 728 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 42 first downs.

Hunt, who was drafted by the Chiefs in the same year as Mahomes (2017), was released by the team in his second season in the NFL after a video of him assaulting a woman came to surface.

He went on to spend five seasons with the Cleveland Browns, until the opportunity of coming back to Arrowhead arose. With Isiah Pacheco fracturing his fibula in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, Reid and the Chiefs felt it was the right time to reunite with Hunt, a free agent by then.

A crowded RB room in Kansas City for 2025

The Chiefs finished the season with both Hunt and Pacheco on their backfield, but the position has even more depth now that they signed former San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell this offseason.

On top of that, Kansas City made yet another addition by drafting Brashard Smith out of SMU. Knox notes that the RB room is crowded, which is why he sees a breakup with Hunt as a sacrifice the Chiefs can afford to make, especially since it will save them more than half a million.

That said, it would be a surprising loss for Mahomes and Kelce in offense, considering the way he played last year. Only time will tell whether Hunt gets to play out the one-year extension signed this offseason, or if the Chiefs ultimately come up with a change of plans.

In pursuit of his goal, the seasoned Chiefs running back delivered a clear message to his coach, stating that he will do whatever it takes for his team to secure the coveted championship ring for his career.

“I’m just doing whatever Coach [Andy] Reid and those guys ask me to do, man,” he said via Arrowhead Pride. “I’ll just play my role — go out there [to] do whatever [I can] to help the team win.”

At Kansas City’s greatest moment of glory, Hunt was not part of that roster, as he had taken his talents to the Cleveland Browns. Upon his return, he had the opportunity to play in the most recent Super Bowl, which ended in a defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite not securing the title in New Orleans, Hunt feels deep down that they will soon have another chance to achieve it: “The culture is just great,” he said. “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to. But we’ve got a lot of work to do — and I feel like we’ve got another good shot at it.”

The frustration of the defeat in the most recent Super Bowl

Hunt was not part of the process behind the recent titles won by Andy Reid and his players, so the game against the Eagles this past February represented a huge opportunity for him to secure his first NFL championship.

The former Toledo running back couldn’t hide his frustration after failing to defeat Jalen Hurts’ team in New Orleans, but he remains confident that he will secure the title soon.

“You never want to go to the Super Bowl and lose,” Hunt stated. “But I’m just grateful I got to experience that. I definitely want to get back there and see how it is on the other side.”

Hunt’s enthusiasm to compete again

If there’s one position on the field that demands exceptional physical effort and performance, it’s that of the running backs. For that reason, Kareem Hunt knows he must take the best care of himself, and he eagerly awaits training camp to kick off the upcoming season in optimal condition.

“I am just taking care of my body, working every day and eating right,” he explained. “I feel like it’ll help me in the long run. So my body feels great. I’m excited to have an actual training camp — and be there when everything gets running.”

In his first appearance since the Chiefs‘ Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Pacheco had as many carries as Hunt (7) but gained the upper hand in yards (44 to 15). The third-year running back, however, doesn’t see his teammate as competition.

Speaking to reporters after the game at Arrowhead, Pacheco showed nothing but praise for Hunt, making it clear that the 29-year-old has made Reid’s team and the RB room stronger. In fact, he even thanked the veteran running back for contributing during his absence.

“Yes, hats off to him [for] stepping up,” Pacheco said. “It’s been a tough run. He’s been awesome leading the room. Everyone’s been following the leaders. Most importantly for me, just pinpointing details in the meeting room for when I had the opportunity to get out and show my ability. Focus on the details: the chips, the check-downs, just the little things that would make my game a little bit better today.”

Pacheco thankful for first game back with Chiefs

Apart from giving Hunt his flowers, Pacheco revealed how much it meant to him to be back on the gridiron. Reid recently admitted he had to delay his return, but the player was just thankful for the opportunities on Friday.

“It felt awesome just having that moment to get that contact again,” Pacheco said. “I’ve been missing it. I’ve been backed up on anger, so being able to let that anger out on the field, it was a blessing.”

Pacheco admits recovery process was tough

Pacheco got injured early in the 2024 NFL season, picking up a fractured fibula during the Week 2 victory over the Bengals. It required a lengthy recovery, which tested his mental resilience.

“It was challenging,” Pacheco admitted. “You’ve got days you come in and you don’t want to work. You could go as hard as you can and you could get distractions. You’ve got guys that are healthy running in and out of the facility but you as a player, you’ve got to focus on what you’ve got to come in there and do. For me, that was to get better day in and day out and eliminate distractions. I wanted to go out to the hot tub, the cold tub and do those extra things but during the moment, I had to focus in on what I had planned and then, on my own time, do the extra stuff.”

However, the coach will have a big decision to make now that Pacheco is nearing a return to action. Will Reid keep Hunt as the starting running back? Or will he give the job back to Pacheco?

Reid prefers not to get ahead of himself. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Chiefs head coach made it clear to Hunt and Pacheco that the coaches will try to make things work so that both can make an impact.

“We’ll find a way,” Reid said on having both Hunt and Pacheco on the field. “Both of them are good players, so we’ll find a way to get both of them in, if and when that takes place. That’s a good problem to have.”

Reid not sure when Pacheco will return for Chiefs

During his media availability, Reid suggested Pacheco has made progress and could be back on the field soon. The 25-year-old has been on the sidelines since fracturing his fibula during the Chiefs’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.

“We’ll see on both those two, Charles (Omenihu) and (Pacheco), kind of go through the practice, see where we’re at this week and go from there, but we’ll just have to see,” Reid said. “Day-by-day type of thing.”

While Reid has been cautious to provide a return date for Pacheco, he made sure to praise the running back for his work ethic during his recovery: “He’s a spark plug, emotionally. He’s something that way, and he’s worked his tail off to get to the point that he’s at now. We’ve got to keep an eye on him that way. He would’ve played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that’s sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that, though, that mentality. That’s what’s helped him get to this point.”

Pacheco expected to play for Chiefs in Week 12

After missing Pacheco for weeks, it looks like Reid and Patrick Mahomes will recover their key weapon for the running game. On NFL GameDay Morning before the Week 11 games, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport claimed Pacheco is expected to play in Week 12.

On Sunday, November 24, the Chiefs will hit the road for the second week in a row to take on the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Reid, meanwhile, has yet to give any sign on whether the Chiefs plan to activate Pacheco for that game.

Far from looking worried about his role on the team, the 29-year-old is excited about Pacheco’s return. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hunt made it clear to Reid that he and Pacheco can perfectly coexist on the Chiefs’ offense.

“I think that’s great, man. I’m happy for him (Isiah Pacheco), and I know he’s excited to get back and get out there,” Hunt said of Pacheco, via ChiefsWire. “I think it’s gonna be a heck of a one-two punch.”

Pacheco is coming back from a fractured fibula sustained during the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Hunt, who returned to Kansas City when Pacheco was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of Week 3, has been the go-to player in the Chiefs’ running game during Pacheco’s absence. The Toledo product, however, warned the rest of the NFL that he and Pacheco could make a powerful duo.

“I think it could be very similar, man. I’m excited,” said Hunt. “I’m used to working with other great backs and stuff like that. So, I feel like it’s gonna be another great one-two punch.”

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy echoes Hunt’s sentiment on duo with Pacheco

Hunt is definitely not the only one who thinks he and Pacheco could make life difficult for the rest of the league. During his media availability on Thursday, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy echoed Hunt’s comments.

“Those guys both want the football, which is a good thing. . . Pacheco brings that energizer bunny mentality. . . you put that together with Kareem, it’s a great one-two punch, per se;” Nagy said, via Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.

Andy Reid happy with Hunt’s role in Kansas City

While many can’t wait to see what Pacheco and Hunt do together, the Chiefs head coach is not getting ahead of himself. With the former still returning from injury, Reid wants Hunt to continue getting significant workload.

“He’s doing well for just coming off the couch,” said Reid of Hunt. “I mean, he’s like second in the league, for the number of games he’s played, in carries and yards. He’s doing a heck of a job, and he wants more. He’s not asking to come out now. That’s not quite how he’s wired, but he’s doing well. He fell on his leg there – one of the guys fell on his leg and kind of tweaked it a little bit – but he’s fine.”

Part of the same draft class as Patrick Mahomes in 2017, Hunt was cut by the Chiefs in his second NFL season after a controversial video of him assaulting a woman surfaced. After five years with the Cleveland Browns, he got a long-awaited second chance in Kansas City. And he’s making the most of it.

Five years after his controversial exit from the Chiefs, the 29-year-old is enjoying a triumphant return to Kansas City as the team’s primary running back during Isiah Pacheco’s absence. And while Hunt’s current form makes Mahomes extremely happy, the quarterback also warned the rest of the NFL that the Chiefs’ running game will get even scarier when Pacheco returns.

“I’m happy for him to bounce back and come back here and then have this great start to the middle of the season here,” Mahomes said of Hunt’s performance after the Chiefs’ 30-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on ‘Monday Night Football’ before issuing his strong warning. “Whenever we get Isiah (Pacheco) back, it’s going to be a tough tandem for guys to tackle.”

Hunt played a key role in the Chiefs’ eighth win of the 2024 NFL season with 27 carries for 106 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime. In addition, he caught a pass from Mahomes for 11 yards.

“It’s been fun,” Mahomes said about his teammate, who spent five years in Cleveland before coming back to Kansas City. “It’s been fun to watch, man. I mean, he’s come in the building – since he’s been here – and he’s just got after it every single day. He works his tail off, he prepares himself for the moment and then whenever we get down there in like [the] fourth quarter and the end of games, he’s going to make those runs. Five to six yards, seven yards, whatever it is and he’s going to finish. When you play that hard the entire game, it wears on the defense. I think guys are proud of the way he’s playing and the way he’s gone about his business this year.”

Andy Reid’s change of plans benefited Hunt, Mahomes

While Hunt ended up posting fantastic numbers on Monday, the truth is the night didnt’ start well for him. In the first half, he only gained 16 yards in seven carries. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid‘s change of plans for the second half saw Hunt take off with 20 carries for 90 yards, including the overtime TD.

“I didn’t call enough runs in the first half,” Reid explained to reporters after the game. “I told the offensive line that I was going to bank on them, and we need to get this thing started and get a little bit more balance in there in our attack.”

Mahomes shows complete trust in Hunt

Reid appeared to heap more praise on the Chiefs’ offensive line, but still gave Hunt his deserved flowers. At the end of the day, it is crystal clear that he’s quickly become a reliable weapon for Mahomes.

“He wants the football,” Mahomes said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, is as the game goes on it’s like he starts feeling it and he starts going. There are certain situations where I might have throws on the outside and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m going to give this guy the football and let him go,’ because when he’s running, even though [it’s] six-yard [or] five-yard carries, they take a toll on the defense.“

Their quest for an unprecedented three-peat is off to a perfect start, with the Chiefs being the only undefeated team in the NFL through eight weeks. In addition, Reid has received promising news even in the midst of an injury crisis.

Kareem Hunt‘s return has given Kansas City not only a perfect replacement to Isiah Pacheco, but also more veteran presence in the locker room. On top of that, the seasoned running back has quickly become a leader on the field next to Mahomes.

“Yeah, you know, he was in that class with Patrick (Mahomes) and it’s almost like he kind of never left,” Reid said of Hunt, who was made a captain for the Week 8 win over division rivals Las Vegas Raiders. “That’s how I think the guys that have been here see that, and then the guys that haven’t been here have always heard about Kareem and the guys talking about him. He has that veteran leadership ability [and] runs tough. He’s been welcomed back as if he hadn’t left. That’s why we felt comfortable doing that.”

Hunt is enoying a great start to his second stint with the Chiefs, having spent five seasons with the Cleveland Browns after a controversial exit from Kansas City in November 2018. In four games (three starts) this season, Hunt boasts 84 carries for 308 yards with four touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Apart from helping Mahomes during Pacheco’s absence, Hunt is providing his experience to a young offense.

Chiefs happy with Hunt’s return

Reid and Mahomes have strongly defended the Chiefs’ decision to bring back Hunt this season, understanding that the time away from the team was useful for the player to learn from his mistakes and grow as a person. The coach also made it clear that he’s comfortable with the 29-year-old carrying the ball so much.

“I mentioned before that he came back in pretty good shape other than not having played football, and that’s held true to this point,” Reid said earlier in October. “He’s been able to do a good job in practice when he was on the scout team. Then, he worked through that [and] he was able to get in the game. We started him off relatively slow and then increased it and he was able to handle both of those things. I think – and we’ll just see how the game goes – but I feel comfortable with him carrying the ball.”

Hunt was released by Kansas City in his second year in the NFL after a video of him assaulting a woman surfaced, with the running back admitting by then that he hadn’t been honest with the team about the situation.

But five years later, he got a second chance. Pacheco’s fractured fibula left the Chiefs without their starting running back only two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, paving the way for Hunt’s return as a free agent. And so far, so good.

After making a strong return to the Chiefs in Week 4, the 29-year-old delivered an even better performance last time out. With 27 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, Hunt played an instrumental role in Kansas City’s 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

Speaking to the media after the game, Hunt expressed his happiness but credited the success to Reid: “That was a great feeling to get back in the endzone. I missed it very much. That’s why I threw up a heart to show my love to Kansas City. I’m having a blast out there. It’s so much fun. I missed it so much. Coach Reid does a great job of putting us in great situations to be successful.”

It was Hunt’s first NFL game at Arrowhead in more than five years. After leaving the team through the back door in November 2018 as a video of him assaulting a woman surfaced, the running back played for the Cleveland Browns from 2019 to 2023. This year, Pacheco going down with a fractured fibula allowed Hunt to have a second chance in Kansas City.

Both Reid and Mahomes strongly defended the Chiefs’ decision to bring back Hunt, who let everyone know he’s very optimistic about the future: “I feel like I’m going to be all right. We have some time before we get back, so that’s good for me right now. I just need to stay working out.”

Andy Reid proud of Hunt, Chiefs players

Before Reid made the long-awaited move of promoting Hunt, the Chiefs’ only options at running back after Pacheco’s injury were Carson Steele and Samaje Perine. Therefore, Hunt’s strong performances have revitalized this group, which is also expected to count on Clyde Edwards-Helaire soon.

The Chiefs have also suffered key injuries in other positions, particulary at wide receiver, with Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice on the sidelines. Therefore, the head coach is extremely proud about the way his boys have responded.

“They don’t flinch on all that stuff,” Reid said. “They know it’s the next guy up, and he goes. I’m proud of them for that. There’s an attitude in the locker room, and it has to start with that group there. They just know they can trust that the next guy is going to come in and do a good job.”

Andy Reid believed Hunt deserved a second chance with Chiefs

Hunt’s return to the Chiefs gave plenty to talk about considering the way things ended between the player and the team many years ago. But Reid made it cleary from the very beginning that he was all-in about this reunion.

“What we told him and [said] publicly [in 2018], we just thought he needed a change of scenery and to get some help, take care of business there. And we felt like he did that,” Reid said in September. “He did a nice job in Cleveland. We talked to the people there, and there were no issues there. So, we felt OK by bringing him back. He’s 29 years old now — time flies — but he’s 29 years old, looks like he’s grown up some. … I think people deserve a second chance if they’ve done something to work on the first part of it.”