It seems Jamaal Charles will still not be able to make his NFL comeback when his team the Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Jets on Sunday. And, given his absence due to an injury last year, he could be in danger of getting released by the team.
For Charles, last season ended in October when he suffered a torn ACL during the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears. After being placed on injured reserve, running backs Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West were appointed to take his place.
Throughout the offseason, Charles has been working to get back on the field. Andy Reid, coach of the Chiefs, also said that he has been showing signs of improvement. However, these aren't enough to give Charles the necessary clearance to play this weekend.
"He's improving by the day," Reid said. "We'll just keep him going and see how he does this week. He's chomping at the bit wanting to play, which I love about him. I just want to make sure we're good there when the time comes."
"I think the longer you can wait with him, the better it is, even though he probably thought he can play today or tomorrow," he added. "We'll see how this week goes. Another week I think is going to help him."
However, if Charles continues to get sidelined, there's a chance that the Chiefs might decide to just release him. After all, with West and Ware doing an incredible job in keeping the Chiefs' offense strong, the team could go without Charles in the lineup.
Having West and Ware on the field also gives coach Reid the option to run the ball in different directions, instead of just sticking the plays to a single quarterback.
As noted by quarterback Alex Smith, these two running backs have greatly improved the Chiefs' plays.
"In the run and pass game, those guys have been really, really dynamic and making plays for us," he said. "It's nice for the organization, for the coaches, for Jamaal not to be getting pressured, that they can really make the right decision for him and his health."
