The Kansas City Chiefs have to figure things out in a hurry.
They're 0-2 for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, and there's been plenty that has gone wrong.
One major issue has been the running game, where Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt haven't been good enough.
ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote Wednesday that the Chiefs could soon turn away from those veterans in favor of seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith out of SMU.
"They believed Isiah Pacheco was running like his old self in camp and that he would be productive right out of the gate; he has not been," Graziano wrote. "They need to find ways to generate more productive offense with him and Kareem Hunt, or else don't be surprised if at some point soon rookie Brashard Smith gets a shot. The Chiefs view him as a different kind of back than those two -- more of a receiver type who can make explosive plays in space. Once they trust the rookie to handle all of the running back responsibilities, he could be a factor in their offense. They were very impressed with him in camp."
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The Chiefs likely would keep Pacheco and Hunt around. One could remain the short-yardage back.
But RB is a fickle position in the modern NFL. If Kansas City plays Smith and likes what he provides, there could soon be little need to keep more expensive veterans around for the long run.
Whatever it takes, the Chiefs have to figure this out.
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Good teams can come back from 0-2 and still make the playoffs, but it's an uphill climb. And whoever is carrying the football for the Chiefs better be ready to carry the team on that uphill climb.
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