THE Kansas City Chiefs revealed that the team could lose a key offensive player in Patrick Mahomes' led offense.
The three-time Super Bowl MVP's teammate suffered an injury during the Chiefs' 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
The 15-1 Kansas City squad was able to secure the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after Wednesday's victory.
However, head coach Andy Reid confirmed that running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a rib injury during the contest.
The third-year playmaker didn't return to the game after rushing six times for 18 yards.
"Really, as far as the injuries go, Pacheco would be the only one. He injured his ribs there. So we'll see how bad they are," Reid said during the postgame press conference.
"On the positive side of that, he played good football along with Kareem [Hunt] and [Samaje] Perine just keeps making plays for us."
The Week 17 game was Pacheco's fifth contest back from an early-season fractured fibula injury.
He missed two-and-a-half months from the injury.
Pacheco has totaled 310 rushing yards and a touchdown this season.
Last season, the Rutgers product became a force in Kansas City's offense, recording 935 yards and seven touchdowns.
During the postseason, Pacheco rushed for 313 yards and three scores in just three games, helping the team win their second straight Super Bowl victory.
It's likely the 25-year-old won't play in the season-finale game on January 5 with the Chiefs having already secured a first-round bye.
The Chiefs would turn to the duo of Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine if Pacheco misses the Week 18 contest.
Mahomes was blunt when asked if he would rest in the Week 18 road matchup against the Denver Broncos.
"I'm going to [plan to] start, and if Coach wants me to go out there and play," Mahomes said.
"I'll go out there and play. If he doesn't, I'll sit back.
"I fully trust that Coach Reid knows what he's doing, and he's done it for a long time.''
The Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons.
So it's likely fans won't see Mahomes play again until January 18 or January 19 for the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Mahomes totaled 320 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Wednesday contest.
The Chiefs won their third game in the course of a chaotic 10-day span.