Detroit Lions RB Pacheco has back surgery, faces 12-week recovery
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco underwent back surgery on September 14, 2026, to address a nerve compression issue, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport's reporting via Yahoo NFL. Coach Dan Campbell said Pacheco will be sidelined for a significant amount of time, with a potential return by early December.
Isiah Pacheco, the Detroit Lions' running back, underwent back surgery on September 14, 2026, to remove a body pressing on a nerve, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport via Yahoo NFL. The recovery is expected to take 12 weeks, with a chance Pacheco is back by early December, per Rapoport's reporting. Lions coach Dan Campbell framed the absence in cautious terms. "It's going to be a while. Yeah, it's going to be a while. I mean, I really can't (provide a timeline). It's going to be a significant amount of time, though," Campbell said, per Yahoo NFL. The injury requires Pacheco to miss at least three more games after the team placed him on injured reserve to start the season, per Yahoo NFL reporting. Instead, the backup job went to Sione Vaki, who received three touches in the Lions' Week 1 game: two rushes for 7 yards and one catch for 10, per Yahoo NFL reporting. The workload has shifted to Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions' lead back. Gibbs set a career high in rushing attempts with 29 and touches with 34 on Sunday, per Yahoo NFL. Campbell expressed caution about that volume. "Ultimately, do I want to set records with how many carries? No, that's not something I want to do," Campbell said, per Yahoo NFL reporting, indicating he intends to monitor Gibbs' workload to avoid overuse. Vaki's performance in the backup role showed inconsistency. Campbell noted pass protection struggles and said he must improve at several things, per Yahoo NFL reporting, indicating uncertainty about the depth option. The Lions won over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, per Yahoo NFL.
Pacheco, signed to a one-year, $1.81 million contract this offseason to fill the RB2 role after David Montgomery's trade, will miss approximately 12 weeks, leaving the Lions to lean on third-year back Jahmyr Gibbs and backup Sione Vaki.
Gibbs' workload in Week 1 signals the Lions will lean heavily on him while Pacheco recovers; Campbell's stated intent to manage his carries will be tested as the team navigates the running back position through the loss of its planned backup.
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