Lions GM Brad Holmes gave an injury update on RB Isiah Pacheco on Wednesday that already has some fans concerned.
The Detroit Lions will start the season with several key players nursing injuries. Lions safety Kerby Joseph is on the PUP list, as is his fellow safety Brian Branch. One new Lions player’s injury may be worse than originally thought based on recent comments from GM Brad Holmes.
Holmes gave an injury update on Isiah Pacheco on Wednesday. He said that Pacheco is steadily feeling better, but would not give a specific timeline for his return, per Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit.
Holmes was also asked if Detroit still expects Pacheco to be able to play during the 2026 season. He simply replied “yeah, that’s the hope.”
That last comment is already sending some Lions fans into a panic on social media.
“Hope? Yikes,” one fan posted in response.
“If Pacheco doesn’t play this year, getting a new gm should be the hope,” another fan replied.
The Lions signed Pacheco to a one-year contract during NFL free agency this spring. Detroit hoped that Pacheco could help fill the void left by David Montgomery after trading him to Houston back in March.
Pacheco was reportedly dealing with multiple injuries towards the end of the preseason. The Lions placed Pacheco on injured reserve, guaranteeing that he will miss the first four games of the season. But Holmes’ recent comments put that IR move into a completely different light.
Detroit still has plenty of depth at running back to start the season. Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, and Jabari Small are all available to back up Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 1.
It will be interesting to see if Detroit seeks out a new power back at some point during the regular season.
The Lions begin the regular season with a home game against the Saints. That NFC contest kicks off at 1PM ET on September 13th from Ford Field.
The Detroit Lions will start the season with several key players nursing injuries. Lions safety Kerby Joseph is on the PUP list, as is his fellow safety Brian Branch. One new Lions player’s injury may be worse than originally thought based on recent comments from GM Brad Holmes. Holmes gave an injury update on Isiah Pacheco on Wednesday.