Isiah Pacheco’s injury was a devastating blow to the Kansas City Chiefs’ three-peat hopes.
But NFL analyst Jason Bell thinks a combination of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Taylor Swift can help head coach Andy Reid Shake It Off.
Pacheco played a huge role in their Super Bowl triumph last season and began this campaign on fire before being ruled out for at least six weeks with a fractured fibula.
A combination of new addition Samaje Perine, alligator-loving undrafted rookie Carson Steele, and Keaontay Ingram will handle the carries against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.
But Bell thinks Pacheco offers something special which cannot be replaced by any of the trio.
“I mean nobody’s like Pacheco. Pacheco was their heart, their engine,” he exclusively told talkSPORT.
“This is a high-flying team, but he brought that physical element. He brought that energy that you need from that position. He gave him a spark.
“That’s the reason they were able to win the Super Bowl, the way he was running the rock.
“So I don’t think you can duplicate it.
“But with Patrick Mahomes and the rest of this offense, you’re gonna fight. They’re gonna find a way.
“Andy Reid is gonna find a way. To figure out who, and what, can come through.
“It’s gonna take more than one person to fill this role, but I trust Andy Reid to figure this out better than anybody.”
Superstar songstress Swift has been drawing up plays for the Chiefs after falling for their legendary tight end last year.
And Bell thinks now is the time to be Fearless.
“Listen Taylor Swift is money,” he added.
“Everything she does – she it makes it happen.
“So if she’s got something in the bag, you better listen.”
The Chiefs will be desperate to get Pacheco back for the latter stages of the season and playoffs.
But head coach Reid did not give fans much hope when asked about a timeline.
“I can’t give you a time when he’ll return,” he said.
“We’ll just see if it’s this season or next season. We’ll see how he does as he goes here.”
Steele, Perine, and Ingram will be the Chiefs’ three RBs against the Falcons
Returning veteran Hunt remains on the practice squad after being signed days after the Pacheco injury.
“We’ll see how it goes next week and see where he is at,” Reid said of Hunt.
“He got a lot of reps this week with a scout team, so that was good for him to get in there and run around and get back into the football part.
“He did [well]. He’s in decent shape now. He’s got to have an opportunity to play a football game somewhere to tell you the rest, but he came in in good shape, so that’s a plus.”
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