The Detroit Lions will open the regular season without a recently signed running back after placing Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve with a back injury.
The move, reported Monday, means Pacheco will miss at least the first four games. That includes Sunday’s season opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the development.
“Lions placed RB Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve due to a back injury that now will sideline him for at least four games,” Schefter wrote on X.
The timing could hardly be worse for a Lions backfield that already underwent major change this offseason. Detroit traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans earlier this year. In return the Lions received a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick and center Juice Scruggs.
Pacheco arrived in March on a one-year, $1.81 million deal intended to give star running back Jahmyr Gibbs a reliable complement.
Over his first four NFL seasons Pacheco carried the ball 576 times for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns. Those numbers made him an attractive low-cost addition after Montgomery’s departure.
Head coach Dan Campbell addressed the possibility of Pacheco missing time during comments Sunday. Campbell said he felt comfortable turning to Jacob Saylors if needed.
“I am,” Campbell said of Saylors. “I’m comfortable with those guys. And I just like the thought of having a guy in our system, think that’s important. Knows our terminology, knows our guys, knows the protections. Just kind of knows it all, man. Understands our quarterback and how he thinks. I just think that’s important.”
Saylors joined the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He spent the 2025 season with Detroit and appeared in 16 games. He recorded two carries for 11 yards.
The Lions also list Sione Vaki and Jabari Small among the running backs on the 53-man roster.
Gibbs remains the clear feature back. The former first-round pick has shown the ability to handle a heavy workload, yet the Lions had hoped to keep him fresh by rotating complementary pieces.
A four-game absence for Pacheco forces the coaching staff to lean more heavily on unproven options in the early weeks. That stretch includes the Saints game and three additional contests before Pacheco becomes eligible to return.
Campbell indicated he remains open to adding outside help if the situation warrants it. For now the preference is to stay with players already familiar with the scheme.
The Saints present a challenging first test. New Orleans has historically fielded stout run defenses, and Detroit’s offensive line will need to create lanes without the extra depth Pacheco was expected to provide.
Pacheco’s back injury surfaced late enough that the team could not avoid the injured-reserve designation. Players placed on IR at this stage must sit out a minimum of four games.
The Lions have dealt with similar depth questions in past seasons and typically responded by mixing in younger backs while monitoring the waiver wire.
Gibbs’ dual-threat ability as both a runner and receiver should still give Detroit a versatile ground game. The question is whether the supporting cast can produce enough to keep defenses honest.
Vaki and Small have limited NFL experience but have shown flashes in practice and preseason work. Campbell’s comments suggest the staff trusts their grasp of protections and assignments.
The next few days will reveal whether Detroit looks to add another veteran before kickoff. Roster spots remain tight after final cuts.
For a team expected to compete in a tough NFC North, early-season injuries at running back add an unwelcome layer of uncertainty.
Pacheco’s absence will be felt most on early downs and in short-yardage situations where his physical style had been projected to help.
The Lions open at home against the Saints with Gibbs as the focal point and a group of lesser-known names behind him. How that group performs in the first month could shape Detroit’s start.
