Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (back, knee) is expected to miss significant time after recently undergoing back surgery, head coach Dan Campbell said Monday, Sept. 14.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport said that Pacheco had a procedure to repair a pinched nerve in his back, and he is estimated to need at least 12 weeks to recover. He had surgery to remove a body that was pressing on a nerve in his back.
There is a chance he might be able to return sometime in December. Pacheco was previously placed on the reserve/injured list due to an injury to his medial collateral ligament in his knee, with a designation to return. He was signed in the offseason to serve as the backup to running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
SOURCE: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Why it Matters: If you drafted Pacheco as a handcuff for Gibbs in fantasy leagues, it's safe to drop him, unless you have ample IR spots. Sione Vaki is expected to be the primary backup to Gibbs, with Jacob Saylors as the third-string back. For Gibbs, he has nobody pushing him, and he should be a work horse all season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Isiah Pacheco to miss at least three months
