Heading into his ninth NFL season, every Kansas City Chiefs running back looks to Jerick McKinnon as the elder statesman in the room. Even Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Ronald Jones look to McKinnon for tips on ways to get better and how to have longevity in the league. The same goes for the rookies in the room, such as Isiah Pacheco and Tayon Fleet-Davis.
Addressing the media following Saturday’s practice, McKinnon was asked to share his thoughts about Pacheco after working with him at training camp. The seventh-round rookie has left an impression on the veteran running back with his humility, work ethic and athleticism.
“He’s a humble guy and his work ethic is top tier,” McKinnon said. “He’s real explosive and has nice size. Him and (Tayon) Fleet (Davis) both, big backs but they move really well. They have good footwork in the individual drills. I know the coaches think highly of them and so does everybody else on the team.”
Pacheco has seen the opportunity to showcase his ball skills in the past few days of practice. Most of the work going on right now is pass-catching and special teams work as the run drills won’t intensify until the pads come on next week.
“These last couple of days he has shown what he can do with the ball,” McKinnon continued. “Like I told him and the other guys, when you come in as a rookie, it’s going to be that big learning curve. Especially now, everything is flying. In OTA’s, it’s a little slower and you get to learn with the coach, and they break it down. Once you get to camp, it’s all cylinders. Just watching those guys each day just learn and come out and make progress has been amazing.”
Progress was certainly been made by Pacheco, who got snaps with the first-team offense in practice on Saturday. What he’s been able to accomplish in the classroom and on the field through that learning curve has led to some early chances to impress at training camp. He’s been able to think and play fast, but he’ll need to keep it up as camp rages on and we inch closer to the preseason.
