The Eagles don’t have a bell cow running back on their roster, but it appears five-time 1,000-yard rusher and four-time Pro Bowler Jamaal Charles is on their radar. Philadelphia will consider pursuing Charles, whom the Chiefs released Tuesday, according to head coach Doug Pederson (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com).
“I’ve got some history with him in Kansas City for three years,” said Pederson, who coordinated the Chiefs’ offense from 2013-15. “I think he’s a tremendous running back and it’s something that we’ll evaluate now. And we’ll grade him just like we do every free agent and ever person that’s released and see where he can fit into our offense.”
Charles was superb under Pederson during his first two years atop the Chiefs’ offense, but knee injuries hampered him during the previous two seasons. The 30-year-old Charles tore his ACL in October 2015, thereby limiting him to five games and 71 carries, and he missed all but three games last season thanks to a setback that led to November surgery. As a result, Charles picked up a mere 12 carries in 2016.
On a rate basis, the Eagles last year received impressive production from rushers Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner, all of whom averaged at least 4.1 yards per carry. But none finished with more than 155 attempts, a total that a healthy Charles has eclipsed five times during his nine-year career. Adding Charles would give the Eagles a logjam of ball carriers, but it doesn’t seem as if it would affect the 33-year-old Sproles’ status. Pederson said Wednesday Sproles will be on next season’s roster, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com (Twitter link).
I think the fit is great. Has experience in pederson’s, is still a great player and leader on offense, and can be a stopgap for a back in the draft, such as another longhorn alum in Donta foreman. If it’s on a small-short term contract, all that I can realistically see him getting with his age and now injury history, there’s no reason why not.
Another injured, has been player.