What happened: Pacheco underwent surgery after a body pressing on a nerve in his back was identified. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins IV, with an estimated recovery of about 12 weeks and a chance to return in early December.
Why it matters: The injury takes a running back out of Detroit's rotation for much of the regular season and forces the backfield to absorb a longer absence. An early-December target pushes any return closer to the stretch run than the opening half of the schedule.
By the numbers: Twelve weeks from Sept. 14 lands in the first week of December, covering most of the remaining September, October and November calendar.
What to watch: The next key update is whether Detroit attaches any formal roster move to the recovery. Early December is now the first window for Pacheco to re-enter the backfield.