The Kansas City Chiefs are forced to alter their offensive game plan ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. With starting running back Isiah Pacheco ruled out, the Chiefs have elevated former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire from their practice squad. In addition to Edwards-Helaire, the team also elevated guard C.J. Hanson, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

Hanson’s elevation comes as starting left tackle Josh Simmons remains out due to personal reasons, and guard Trey Smith is listed as questionable. Edwards-Helaire joins a backfield now led by Kareem Hunt in Pacheco’s absence. Rookie Brashard Smith is also expected to get more carries behind Hunt, with Elijah Mitchell potentially mixing in as well.

Chiefs fans will remember Edwards-Helaire as the team’s first-round pick in 2020. Although he did not have a standout career with Kansas City, he was part of two of the team’s Super Bowl-winning seasons. Over his first four years with the Chiefs, Edwards-Helaire managed just 1,845 rushing yards before being waived in the 2024 offseason.

After his release, Edwards-Helaire signed with the New Orleans Saints, appearing in just two games during the 2024 season. Following his release from the Saints during final roster cuts in August, he did not play in any games in 2025. Shortly after, he rejoined the Chiefs and has been on their practice squad throughout the season.

### Chiefs Prepare for Massive Bills Game Without Isiah Pacheco

While the situation involving Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire is noteworthy, it is far from the main story of this game. The spotlight will be on the burgeoning rivalry between two AFC powerhouses and their star quarterbacks.

Week 9 marks the 10th chapter of the growing Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen rivalry. Mahomes currently leads the all-time series 5-4, but Allen holds a 4-1 advantage against him in the regular season. Both teams enter the matchup riding significant momentum and are well-acquainted with one another’s playing style.

The Chiefs arrive in Buffalo on a three-game winning streak, having won five of their last six outings. Meanwhile, the Bills return home after a dominant 40-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, snapping a two-game losing streak.

With a win, either the Bills or the Chiefs will move closer to the top of the AFC standings. Although neither team’s record fully reflects their performance thus far, both are expected to remain atop the conference by season’s end. This Week 9 clash promises to be a crucial and thrilling chapter in one of the NFL’s premier rivalries.
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