Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco will miss about 12 weeks after surgery to remove a loose body pressing on a nerve in his back, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins IV.

"It's going to be a while," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "It'll be a significant amount of time though." Pacheco could return in early December.

Pacheco was already slated to miss Detroit's first four games after being placed on injured reserve with a designation to return on Sept. 1 due to an MCL sprain and the back injury, both suffered during training camp.

The Lions added Pacheco this offseason as a free agent to pair with star running back Jahmyr Gibbs after trading David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. He spent his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning two Super Bowls.

Lions starting left guard Christian Mahogany's status for Thursday night's game against the Buffalo Bills is in question after he suffered a hip injury and was carted to the locker room during Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints. Campbell doesn't feel it's long-term but said "it could be tough to get him ready" for the trip to Buffalo.