Gobble, gobble, let’s trot towards a victory! That is the mantra Chiefs‘ owner Clark Hunt is following ahead of the team’s much-anticipated Black Friday clash against the Raiders. While for most of us, Thanksgiving is synonymous with turkey, family, and traditions, Hunt added a fourth element to his agenda this time. And that was cardio! The Hunt family’s Thanksgiving Day started with them lacing up their sneakers and participating in the annual Houston Turkey Trot. Joining the family was Gracie Hunt, Clark’s youngest daughter, who ran her first registered race in two years.

One glance through Gracie’s social media, and you know she’s all about fashion, sports, and, of course, the Kansas City Chiefs. But her post on Thanksgiving Day proved a little more than that. For her, the occasion was about helping society and also achieving a fitness goal. You go, girl! After suffering from a painful foot injury, the former Miss Kansas winner appeared for the traditional Turkey Trot alongside over 22,000 people. And she didn’t just show up—she delivered. Taking to Instagram, she wrote, “All the turkeys trotted! Grateful to be with my people & to run my first registered race since my foot injury two years ago. Finished 8 miles in 57 minutes & had a blast doing it!” She also went on to wish her followers a “blessed Thanksgiving” and hoped for everyone to spend it with their loved ones.

Gracie sure is a good inspiration to many of us – sweat it out before digging into the turkey. But, what spoke volumes in her post was, “Let’s find the joy and gratitude in all things—big and small”, a sentiment the Chiefs players and fans resonate with. While teeth-clenching narrow wins for the Chiefs have kept the fans happy, the mounting injuries have not. To keep their footing in the playoffs strong, the team needs to stay stable with their performance and add some saving grace to their roster. 

Pacheco’s return: Chiefs have a lot to be thankful for

RB Isiah Pacheco, who fractured his fibula in Week 2, is officially activated. Although head coach Andy Reid is still cautious about his recovery and performance, it is very likely that he will play in Friday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. Pacheco had only carried 34 times for 135 yards and a touchdown before he fractured his fibula early in the season and required surgery. The game against the Bengals saw Pacheco maintain his aggressive running style. But, fighting for extra yardage on a second-quarter rush, he took a low hit to his lower leg, fracturing his fibula. And the wait to see him back in action has been long.

With the possibility of Pacheco returning for the Friday game, we are left to wonder how Reid will factor in Hunt. Of course, having both the RBs together on the field will not harm the team in any way. While the veteran running back has shown solid performance, Pacheco has the possibility of being back in form after almost 10 weeks of rest and limited practices.

Add to this, DE Charles Omenihu was also activated and is returning from a torn ACL. He may not be in top form, but he could help the team with their non-existent four-man pass rush. It’s no doubt since the Chiefs’ game against the San Francisco 49ers, the defense needs a lot of work. And now, with Jaylen Watson’s injury, the cry for help is even louder. Plus, the team’s safeties have been struggling to cover players one-on-one. So, one can be hopeful that Omenihu could be the knight in shining armor.

As for Mahomes, he has a lot more riding on the Friday game. He is one touchdown away from surpassing Hall of Famer Len Dawson’s record of 237 career touchdown passes. So, the anticipation and hopes are sky-high, no doubt. Will he be able to take his team toward a clean victory? Let’s see!