The Detroit Lions may finally be getting closer to having Isiah Pacheco back on the field. According to a new update, the running back has a chance to return in late December as he continues recovering from a back injury that has kept him sidelined for the entire season so far. While there is still no guarantee he will be ready by then, this is an encouraging development for a player who has yet to make his regular-season debut with Detroit.

Pacheco was expected to serve as Jahmyr Gibbs’ primary backup after joining the Lions this offseason, giving Detroit an experienced and physical option behind its star running back. However, his season took a difficult turn before it even began. After dealing with a sprained MCL during training camp, Pacheco developed a back issue that forced the Lions to place him on injured reserve before the regular season started.

The situation became more serious in September when Pacheco underwent back surgery to remove a fragment pressing on a nerve. His recovery was expected to take approximately 12 weeks, putting a potential return in December on the table. Now, with late December being mentioned as a possibility, the Lions may finally have a clearer idea of when their backup running back could return.

Pacheco’s absence has left Detroit needing to find another reliable option behind Gibbs. While Gibbs remains the centerpiece of the backfield, having Pacheco available would give the Lions another physical runner and help take some of the workload off their starter as the season progresses.

Of course, the biggest question is whether Pacheco can recover in time to contribute meaningfully before the regular season ends. A late-December return would leave limited time for him to get back into game shape, so Detroit will need to be careful not to rush him back before he is ready.

For now, Lions fans will have to wait for further updates on his recovery. Still, after months without much positive news, the possibility of Pacheco returning before the end of the season is something worth watching. If he can make it back, he could provide Detroit with a valuable boost for the final stretch of the campaign.