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Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles Retires From NFL

April 30th, 2019 at 10:50am CST by Zachary Links

Jamaal Charles is calling it a career. The running back will sign a one-day contract in order to officially leave the game as a member of the Chiefs, according to 610 Sports Radio (Twitter link). 

Way back in October, Charles indicated that he was likely done with football. But, days later, he auditioned for the Ravens, leaving some question as to whether he would follow through on retirement. Months later, Charles has arrived at a decision – he’s done for good.

In his prime, Charles was one of the NFL’s most electrifying running backs. When he was young, healthy, and a member of the Chiefs, he had some brilliant seasons, including a 2010 campaign in which he ran for 1,467 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, time is not kind to running backs, and he has not topped 1,000 yards since the 2014 season due to aging and injuries.

The Chiefs’ all-time rushing leader attempted to reignite his career with the Broncos in 2017 and again with the Jaguars in 2018. He wasn’t the same player, but it’s worth noting that he managed a 4.3 yards per carry average with Denver in a limited sample size of 69 attempts.

Charles will leave the game at the age of 32, presumably with enough money to do whatever he wants. We here at PFR wish Charles the best in retirement.

Ravens Work Out RB Jamaal Charles

October 26th, 2018 at 3:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens tried out running back Jamaal Charles, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He was one of five backs to try out on Friday, along with Charcandrick West, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Akrum Wadley, and Dare Ogunbowale. 

After Charles was quickly add/dropped by the Jaguars earlier this month, he said that he was “probably” done with football. As it turns out, football may not be done with him just yet. Charles will turn 32 in December and hasn’t played a full season as a starter since 2014, but the Ravens are curious to see what he could offer as a reserve.

The Ravens’ offense has been inconsistent this year and running back Alex Collins has not had the breakout campaign that many expected. For now, Collins is backstopped by only Buck Allen and Gus Edwards as Kenneth Dixon works his way back from IR. It’s not clear whether the Ravens are updating their lists in case Dixon’s rehab stalls or if they’re considering one of these five backs as an interim option.

West, a former teammate of Charles, was cut by the Chiefs and failed to stick with the Jets this offseason. The 27-year-old’s most productive campaign came in 2015, when he managed 160 carries for 634 yards and four touchdowns, but his rushing role with Kansas City declined in the last couple of seasons. While he played more than 500 offensive snaps from 2016-17, West handled only 106 total carries, including just 18 last year.

Jamaal Charles Likely Done With Football

October 24th, 2018 at 2:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Chiefs great Jamaal Charles says he has “probably” played his final down of football. In a post on Instagram, Charles hinted strongly at retirement. 

“I’m so thankful and grateful,” Charles wrote. “Thanks Jaguars for opportunity. It probably was my last chance putting on a jersey again.”

Charles was once one of the NFL’s most electrifying running backs. When he was young, healthy, and a member of the Chiefs, he had some brilliant seasons in Kansas City, including a 2010 campaign in which he ran for 1,467 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, time is not kind to running backs, and he has not topped 1,000 yards since the 2014 season due to aging and injuries.

This year, Charles hooked on with the Jaguars to help fill in for the injured Leonard Fournette. However, after the acquisition of Carlos Hyde, he was no longer needed. He’s technically a free agent, but it doesn’t sound like Charles will be seeking work.

Jaguars To Release Jamaal Charles

October 22nd, 2018 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jamaal Charles‘ stay with a third NFL team did not last long. The Jaguars are releasing the two-time All-Pro running back, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The Carlos Hyde acquisition will lead to Charles losing his job. He received just six carries with his latest team. The Jags signed linebacker Nick DeLuca to take Charles’ roster spot.

Jacksonville added Charles to help a backfield missing starter Leonard Fournette. But the team clearly didn’t feel its sans-Fournette running back situation was strong enough, deciding to unload a fifth-round pick for Hyde, who will be set to debut for his new team on Sunday in London.

The Chiefs’ all-time rushing leader and one of the best yards-per-carry runners in NFL history, Charles will return to free agency. He’d resided there since the Broncos let him walk in the offseason. The 31-year-old back gained seven yards on those six carries and appears to be near the end of a decorated NFL career.

DeLuca will join a Jags team that saw reserve linebacker Donald Payne suffer a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Texans.

NFL Workout Updates: 10/9/18

October 9th, 2018 at 6:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Here’s the latest from the workout circuit, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Jaguars To Sign Jamaal Charles

October 9th, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have agreed to sign running back Jamaal Charles, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Charles will give Jacksonville another backfield option while star Leonard Fournette recovers from a hamstring ailment. To make room, the club is releasing backup running back Brandon Wilds.

Charles, 32 in December, is admittedly not the player that he once was. The veteran had some brilliant seasons in Kansas City, including a 2010 campaign in which he ran for 1,467 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry, but he has not topped 1,000 yards since his 2014 season with the Chiefs. Injuries and time have slowed Charles, but the Jaguars believe that he has enough juice to help hold down the fort while Fournette is out.

Charles is not necessarily ticketed for a giant workload while Fournette is sidelined – the top job is expected to remain in T.J. Yeldon‘s grasp. Still, Charles has a clear path to playing time for at least one week.

The Jaguars recently lost Corey Grant to a season-ending Lisfranc injury, so the signing of Charles and the release of Wilds leaves the club with just two healthy running backs. It’s likely that another RB will be added to the mix, and it will have to be an outsider as there are no RBs on the Jags’ taxi squad.

Jamaal Charles To Work Out For Jaguars

October 9th, 2018 at 9:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars are in need of help at running back, and they’re considering two former Chiefs for support. Jamaal Charles and Charcandrick West will work out for the team on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

Starter Leonard Fournette has missed multiple games this year with a nagging hamstring issue and no one knows when he’ll be able to return. Meanwhile, backup running back Corey Grant has been ruled out for the year with a Lisfranc injury.

Charles made it through the 2017 campaign healthy — which was an accomplishment in and of itself — but aside from that, it was not an especially memorable season for the 31-year-old. The two-time All-Pro, who was one of the most exciting players in the league before being plagued by extensive knee trouble, racked up just 69 carries for the Broncos last year, and while he led all Denver ball-carriers with a 4.3 YPC average, he was a healthy scratch to close out the year and was frustrated with his lack of playing time. He was linked to the Redskins in August, but we haven’t heard his name mentioned in recent weeks.

The Chiefs released West earlier this year, and although he subsequently latched on with the Jets, he lasted less than a month in New York before getting cut again. The 27-year-old’s most productive campaign came in 2015, when he managed 160 carries for 634 yards and four touchdowns, but his rushing role with Kansas City had been greatly reduced in recent seasons. While he played more than 500 offensive snaps from 2016-17, West handled only 106 total carries, including just 18 last year. West worked out for the Bucs earlier this month, but left Tampa without a deal.

East Rumors: Redskins, Woods, Britt, Giants

August 19th, 2018 at 8:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles made plans to visit the Redskins this weekend, following Orleans Darkwa in doing so. This effort to add a piece to a reeling backfield won’t be to bring in a starter but to add depth to a position group that needs it. Jay Gruden said (video link) his team is “covering our bases” in arranging visits with these free agent backs. Being merely a four-year veteran with a light carry history, Darkwa certainly has the most left in the tank. He led the Giants in rushing last season. Peterson, though, has recent experience fitting in quickly with a new team. Although he didn’t do well on a per-carry basis behind a struggling Cardinals offensive line, the future Hall of Fame back posted two 130-plus-yard performances last season — the first of which coming in his initial Cards game. Charles fell out of the Broncos’ rotation late in the season, but the two-time All-Pro made it through last year healthy and performed fairly well (4.3 yards per tote) before being shut down.

Washington lost Derrius Guice and has Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall on the mend. Here’s the latest from some of the Redskins’ rivals, along with news out of the AFC East.

  • Projected to be one of the Cowboys‘ starting safeties, Xavier Woods will be out between three and four weeks because of a hamstring injury, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets. Dallas has been linked to Earl Thomas throughout 2018 and is now examining recently released George Iloka. The Cowboys selected Woods in the sixth round last year and deployed him in four games as a starter.
  • Kenny Britt is still dealing with the hamstring injury he suffered during Patriots minicamp. The veteran wideout has not participated in 11-on-11 drills since that setback, Doug Kyed of NESN.com notes. The Pats removed Britt from the PUP list two weeks ago, and the soon-to-be 30-year-old receiver said he’s feeling OK presently. He declined to predict whether or not he’ll be ready for Week 1. The Patriots signed Britt late last season and picked up his 2018 option in March, but considering how poorly he played with the Browns and his injury status, it wouldn’t be a shock if he’s not on the roster by September. The Pats have endured a turbulent offseason at this position, cutting both Jordan Matthews and Malcolm Mitchell, signing Eric Decker and seeing Julian Edelman incur a four-game PED suspension.
  • The Giants made a change in their sub-package alignment Sunday, swapping in Ray-Ray Armstrong for B.J. Goodson at one of the two linebacker positions, per Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. Armstrong and Alec Ogletree worked as Big Blue’s nickel ‘backers at practice. Armstrong played safety in college and has bounced around in the NFL, seeing action with the Rams, Raiders and 49ers before joining the Giants last year. Pro Football Focus graded both Goodson and Armstrong as poor coverage players last season.

Redskins To Host Adrian Peterson

August 19th, 2018 at 1:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins will host free agent running back Adrian Peterson on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Washington is in serious need of backfield depth, especially after losing presumptive starter Derrius Guice to a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Samaje Perine is expected to miss at least a week with an ankle injury, and Byron Marshall could be sidelined for a month with his own ankle issue. The Redskins also waived/injured running back Martez Carter earlier today, leaving them with Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and Kapri Bibbs as their only health backs.

Guice was expected to handle early-down work for the Redskins, and that’s a role Peterson can conceivably still handle. However, the 2017 campaign wasn’t Peterson’s finest, as he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry on 156 rushes between the Saints and Cardinals. That was the second-lowest figure league-wide among backs with at least 150 carries, while Peterson also finished 46th among 47 RBs in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, meaning he wasn’t efficient on a per-play basis.

At his best, of course, Peterson is a Hall of Fame-caliber player, and he managed more than 1,400 yards on the ground as recently as 2015. His pass-game deficiencies aside, Peterson could give Washington a Guice replacement, one capable of handling running downs before ceding to Thompson on passing plays.

The Redskins worked out fellow running backs Orleans Darkwa and Jamaal Charles on Sunday, but it doesn’t appear Washington is in a hurry to sign either player, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Jamaal Charles To Visit Redskins

August 19th, 2018 at 9:42am CST by Rory Parks

The Redskins’ search for running back depth continues, as the team is set to meet with free agent Jamaal Charles today, per ESPN’s Josina Anderson (via Twitter). Washington is also planning to work out Orleans Darkwa today.

Washington lost presumptive starter Derrius Guice to a torn ACL during the team’s first preseason game, and Samaje Perine is expected to miss at least a week with an ankle injury, so Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and Kapri Bibbs are the team’s only healthy backs at the moment. While Thompson offers upside as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and as a change-of-pace back, the Redskins could really use some more help.

Enter Darkwa and Charles. Darkwa was a bright spot in an otherwise miserable season for the division-rival Giants in 2017, posting career-highs in starts (11), rushes (171), yards (751), and touchdowns (five). Advanced metrics were generally fond of his play, and he has generated plenty of interest this offseason.

Charles, meanwhile, made it through the 2017 campaign healthy — which was an accomplishment in and of itself — but aside from that, it was not an especially memorable season for the 31-year-old. The two-time All-Pro, who was one of the most exciting players in the league before being plagued by extensive knee trouble, racked up just 69 carries for the Broncos last year, and while he led all Denver ball-carriers with a 4.3 YPC average, he was a healthy scratch to close out the year and was frustrated with his lack of playing time.

Charles did meet with the Saints back in June, but we have not heard of any other interest in his services.

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