Jamaal Charles unlikely to play in Chiefs' season opener

ByAdam Teicher ESPN logo
Friday, September 9, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Running back Jamaal Charles is unlikely to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's season opener at the San Diego Chargers, coach Andy Reid said Friday.

Charles was listed on the injury report as doubtful.

Spencer Ware has been getting most of the first-team snaps at running back during training camp and the preseason. The Chiefs also have Charcandrick West and Knile Davis available at running back.

"They'll all play," said Chiefs coach Andy Reid when asked if Ware would start. "We have some personnel groupings so we'll see how that goes. You could probably say that but it depends on the personnel groups so don't hold me accountable."

Charles missed much of last season after tearing his ACL in a Week 5 game against the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs were optimistic through much of the offseason that Charles would be ready to practice when the team started training camp, but his rehab didn't progress as quickly as the Chiefs predicted.

Charles didn't rejoin the Chiefs for practice until the final days of training camp and even then in a limited way. He has yet to regain even in practice the full-time featured back role that he held before the injury. Charles did not play in the preseason.