After sustaining a lower leg injury late in Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was in tears.

When Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Monday, the running back was still being evaluated, but Reid had already spoken to him twice on Sunday night.

“That’s tough,” Reid said. “I think he’s in a better place.”

Pacheco’s emotions were understandable as he is expected to go on the injured list with a fibula injury, meaning he will be out for at least four weeks.

Reid declined to confirm the nature of the injury.

“I don’t have a time frame for Pacheco. I know it won’t be this week,” he said. “It’s going to take a while there.”

During Sunday’s 26-25 victory, Pacheco led all players with 90 rushing yards. Heading into Week Two Monday night football In the NFL, he ranks 14th in rushing yards, with 34 carries for 135 rushing yards.

He’s been a key part of the offense in both games this season. In the first, Pacheco’s gritty run, which helped Patrick Mahomes push the pile, allowed him to score from one yard out in the third quarter.

“He fought through it and he ended up with a touchdown there,” Reid said. “He’s a tough kid.”

Replacements for Pacheco

Without Pacheco, the Chiefs will likely have to rely on undrafted rookie free agent Carson Steele and Samaje Perine, who the Chiefs gave to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with $290,000 guaranteed after leaving the Denver Broncos.

“We’re blessed to have some good people here,” Reid said.

Steele, a training camp sensation who wasn’t expected to make the active roster — let alone get meaningful reps — is on an affordable rookie deal, as is Pacheco, a 2022 seventh-round pick.

During the win against the Bengals, Steele ran for three first downs and gained 24 yards, but he also fumbled in the second quarter.

“You’ve got to keep the ball against your body in this league. He was low and had two hands on it, but he starts coming up and all of a sudden you get a knock on him,” Reid said. “He came back and ran hard for us.”

Reid noted that the former Ball State/UCLA player, who is now more in the spotlight, has no history of fumbles in college or prep.

“He’s going to have to step up to that role,” Reid said. “This will be a good challenge for him.”

Other injuries

Pacheco would become the second offensive starter to go on the injured list.

The Chiefs’ most notable offseason free agent signing was receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who Kansas City signed to a one-year, $7 million contract. He likely would have started, but he hasn’t played this season since injuring his shoulder in the first preseason game.

Surgery is scheduled for Monday to repair his dislocated SC joint, and he could miss the entire season.

“Everyone involved felt it was too risky for him to play without having surgery on this,” said Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs’ vice president of sports medicine and performance.

In addition to Brown and Pacheco, reserve running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a 2020 first-round pick, is on the injured list due to mental health issues.

“That’s part of the equation,” Reid said. “We know it’s there. We just don’t have it available for the next few weeks.”

Perhaps most significantly, the Chiefs will miss the juice that Pacheco provides. When the Chiefs offense was sluggish during Pacheco’s two-plus years, it often turned to the hard-hitting running back for a jolt.

“We all follow Pacheco’s energy. He’s the energizer bunny out there,” Reid said. “Nobody loves to play more than he loves to play.”