Isiah Pacheco has an MCL sprain, but Dan Campbell said Monday the injury should keep him out only a little while and is not expected to keep him from the start of the season.
That matters now because the update came during Monday training camp, when every injury note is suddenly part of the countdown to Week 1. Campbell said he feels pretty good about Pacheco being ready when the season gets here and added that he is not concerned about the running back missing the opener.
The language was careful, but it was also reassuring. Campbell did not give a firm timetable for a return, only saying Pacheco will be sidelined a little bit. That leaves the exact date of his next practice or game appearance unresolved, even as the message from the sideline was that the injury is being handled as a short-term issue rather than a threat to his availability when the games begin.
The update also fits into a broader Detroit Lions camp picture that has been shaped by injuries at other spots. Juice Scruggs is dealing with a soft-tissue injury and is expected to be out for a few more days, while Seth McLaughlin worked at center with the starting lineup on Monday as Cade Mays is expected to miss 8-10 weeks with a fractured wrist. For the Lions, that means the roster math keeps shifting while training camp keeps moving.
For Pacheco, the key point is simpler than the paperwork around it: Campbell does not sound worried about the MCL sprain changing the season’s opening plan. The remaining question is not whether the injury exists, but how soon Pacheco can get back on the field and turn that optimism into a normal week of work.
