NFL Fines KC Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco for Punch Thrown vs. Packers

The Kansas City Chiefs have moved forward from their Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and it appears that the NFL is now ready to do the same. It didn't come without one player taking a hit to his checkbook, though.

On Saturday afternoon, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network revealed that running back Isiah Pacheco is being fined $4,943 for unnecessary roughness.

The NFL fined #Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco $4,943 for unnecessary roughness last week. Pacheco was ejected for throwing a punch. pic.twitter.com/9kgOMjEWs0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 9, 2023

With Kansas City attempting to drive down the field on its final offensive possession of the night, it initially appeared to officials that rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice fumbled the ball. A Green Bay return proceeded, which led to Pacheco and defensive back Keisean Nixon getting into it a bit. Once Pacheco got back on his feet, the second-year man threw a punch. The fumble ruling was eventually overturned, although Pacheco was issued a 15-yard penalty for his mistake and was subsequently ejected from the outing. The Chiefs would go on to stall out on offense and lose by eight points.

Following last week's game, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes had differing perspectives on Pacheco's ejection. Mahomes took a more optimistic approach, saying he loves the energy his halfback brings and knows it will be channeled in a different way moving forward.

"I love the fire from Pop, man," Mahomes said. "That gets us going as an offense. Obviously, it got a flag in the situation but I mean, we were already in a bad situation. I never want to take the passion away from a guy. He'll learn from it, I'm sure he won't make that mistake again. But that's the stuff that we need on this team in order to have the success that we want to have."

This fine won't break the bank for Pacheco, as the former seventh-round pick came into the season with a yearly cash value of $870,000. With that said, it does cap off what's already been a rough week on a sour note. Pacheco suffered a shoulder contusion in the loss to Green Bay and is out for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Not only will he be out of the lineup this weekend, but now he's out of nearly $5,000. That should mark the end of the Chiefs-Packers discourse, though, which overshadowed what was otherwise a stellar game for him. Everyone involved can focus on the future now.

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