KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kareem Hunt filled in admirably for Isiah Pacheco last year and Hunt is likely going to be asked to do it again this year.
Pacheco sprained a ligament in his knee against the Commanders on Monday night and is unlikely to play when the Chiefs play the Bills on Sunday in Buffalo. Pacheco didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and that likely means Hunt will get the bulk of the carries with rookie Brashard Smith and veteran Elijah Mitchell backing him up.
“I love the game of football,” Hunt said. “We got some other guys, too, that can make plays. So I’m definitely ready for whatever I’m asked to do.”
This season Hunt has carried the ball 62 times for245 yards and four touchdowns with eight catches for 57 yards and a touchdown receiving. Hunt and Pacheco have largely split carries this season with Hunt excelling as the team’s short-yardage back.
It’s a little hard to believe, but Hunt has been more effective at converting short yardage than Jalen Hurts and the Tush Push.
“I just heard this like yesterday or something,” Hunt said. “I really don’t think about it. I just try to keep my team, the offense on the field. That’s pretty cool, but we still got a lot more football to go.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Pacheco’s injury probably wouldn’t be a long-term situation and added that Pacheco was up moving around and even wanted to go back in the game against the Commanders. Reid, however, wouldn’t let him, instead turning to Hunt, whose second stint with the team has gone remarkably well.
The Chiefs signed him off the street after Week 2 last season when Pacheco broke his leg. Hunt rushed for 728 yards and seven touchdowns and helped lead the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl. He re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal this offseason, and Reid says Hunt looks even better now.
“He’s in better shape,” Reid said. “Not that he was in terrible shape before, but he’s had a year to do it and get back in the swing after having a little bit of a layoff there.”
Early in his career, Hunt was one of the better receivers out of the backfield. He and Patrick Mahomes gave fans a trip down memory lane against the Commanders as Mahomes scrambled to keep the play alive and found Hunt in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass.
“I saw Pat scramble to the right, and I just kept my eyes on him and tried to find a way to get open and that’s what I did,” Hunt said. “I just kept playing football. He’s always keeping his eyes downfield. He’s always trying to make a play no matter where he’s at on the field.”
