ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco will "miss a significant amount of time" after recently undergoing surgery to remove a loose body that was pressing on a nerve in his back, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Pacheco could return in early December with the recovery process expected to take about 12 weeks. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins IV, who is respected as one of the nation's experts.
"It's going to be a while," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Pacheco's timetable for recovery. "I really can't. It'll be a significant amount of time though."
Pacheco was already slated to miss Detroit's first four games after being placed on the injured reserve list with a designation to return back on Sept. 1 while dealing with an MCL sprain and the back injury, both of which he suffered during training camp.
The Lions added Pacheco this offseason as a free agent to pair with star running back Jahmyr Gibbs after trading veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. He spent his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won two Super Bowl titles.
Lions starting left guard Christian Mahogany's status for Thursday night's matchup against the Buffalo Bills is in question after he suffered a hip injury and was carted to the locker room during the first half of Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints.
Campbell doesn't feel like Mahogany's injury is will be a long-term deal, but did say "it could be tough to get him ready" for the short turnaround and trip to Buffalo.