Jamaal Charles - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Broncos, Long, Eagles

June 19th, 2016 at 12:41pm CST by Rory Parks

Trevor Siemian, the Broncos‘ presumptive No. 2 quarterback, was more consistent in many ways than presumptive starter Mark Sanchez during the team’s OTAs and minicamp, and given that head coach Gary Kubiak said in his offseason-ending press conference last week that Sanchez and Siemian are in a virtual tie for the starting job, there has been some speculation that Siemian could be under center when Week 1 rolls around. But Mike Klis of 9News.com, while acknowledging Siemian’s strong performance, agrees with the prevailing consensus that, unless Sanchez completely flops in the first two games of the preseason–which is a distinct possibility–his experience will force Kubiak’s hand and he will be named the starter prior to the all-important third preseason contest.

Now let’s take a look at some more links from around the league:

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says that a long-term deal between Von Miller and the Broncos remains the most likely outcome, but if the July 15 deadline for a new contract comes and goes, the two sides could work out an alternative one-year agreement that provides Miller with a little more incentive to sign. For instance, the team could promise to not use the tag on Miller again in 2017, which means that Miller, assuming he is willing to risk injury/ineffectiveness in 2016–while earning the full $14.129MM of the franchise tender in the process–would be guaranteed to hit the open market and get his big payday in 2017. If stubbornness prevails and there is no new deal by July 15, that currently unlikely scenario suddenly becomes more plausible.
Before coaching at yesterday’s University of Michigan Big Man camp, free agent left tackle Jake Long said that he is finally healthy. The former No. 1 overall pick added, “This is the healthiest and best I’ve felt in probably about five, six years. My knee’s back. I’ve just been working out, feeling good and ready for the opportunity when it comes along” (article via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com). Long, of course, spent the first five years of his career with the Dolphins and was widely-regarded as one of the best left tackles in the league during that time, but he tore his ACL in each of his two subsequent seasons, which he spent with the Rams, and he appeared in only four games with the Falcons last year, starting none. If he is, in fact, completely healthy, he should be able to land a job as teams look to replace injured or underperforming players during training camp and the preseason.
Two of the Chiefs‘ best players, Jamaal Charles and Justin Houston, are recovering from torn ACLs, and the team is being cautious with both, as Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com writes (citing Adam Teicher of ESPN.com). Houston will not be ready for the start of training camp and may not suit up until sometime after the regular season begins, while Charles will be eased into camp and should be ready for Week 1. Neither player, though, will be on the field before they are completely healthy, as they are too important to the team’s plans to risk re-injury.
In the Eagles‘ crowded and confusing defensive backfield, it is too early to predict who will emerge as the regular contributors. But Mark Eckel of NJ.com writes that a source with knowledge of the way DC Jim Schwartz and DB coach Cory Undlin are thinking says that, if the season started today, the top of the cornerback depth chart would look like this: Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll, Jalen Mills, Ron Brooks, and Eric Rowe.

Chiefs Extend Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware

March 31st, 2016 at 1:53pm CST by Luke Adams

1:53pm: Interestingly, West and Ware appear to have signed to the exact same terms, according to Rapoport, who tweets that both deals are two-year extensions worth $3.6MM, with $2.35MM guaranteed.

11:19am: The Chiefs have locked up a pair of running backs to new contract extensions, the team announced today in a press release. As first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware, who teamed up to replace Jamaal Charles after his ACL injury last season, have signed new deals with the team.

“Charcandrick and Spencer both stepped in and were very effective for us offensively last year,” Chiefs GM John Dorsey said in a statement. “These guys have different styles and abilities, and together they provide us quality depth at the running back position.”

The timing of the extensions for West and Ware is interesting, since neither player would have even be eligible for restricted free agency until 2017, meaning they weren’t on track to become unrestricted free agents until 2018. Nonetheless, the Chiefs clearly liked what they saw from the duo last season, and are perhaps preparing for the end of the Jamaal Charles era in Kansas City.

Although Charles – who has a $5.3MM+ cap charge – is expected to remain on the Chiefs’ roster in 2016, his cap hit increases to $7MM in 2017, the final year of his current deal. He’s coming off another major knee injury, and will turn 30 later this year, so it makes sense that Dorsey and the Chiefs would be looking ahead to the future.

West, who turns 25 in June, was the first man up for the Chiefs in 2015 when Charles went down, and ultimately carried the ball 160 times for 634 yards and four touchdowns. He added another 20 receptions and a TD through the air.

As for Ware, he earned a couple starts when West got hurt, and averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 72 attempts, for 403 yards and six touchdowns for the season. According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link), Ware’s extension is for two years, so he’ll be under contract through the 2018 campaign. Rapoport tweets that the two-year extension is heavy on incentives — the base value is $3.6MM, with $2.35MM guaranteed, but it can be worth up to $9.6MM via yardage and TD incentives.

With Charles, West, and Ware all in the mix for 2016, Knile Davis finds himself buried on Kansas City’s depth chart, and Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets that the team is working on a trade involving Davis. Details on those talks aren’t known yet, and it’s not clear if anything will get done, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Dolphins, who have been in the market for running back help all month, have some interest in Davis — we heard last week that Miami was exploring trade options for a back.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: Jets, Rice, Chiefs, J. Harrison

January 22nd, 2016 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets may undergo some changes at the running back position this offseason, with their top three backs all eligible for free agency. The team appears to be doing its homework in preparation for possible changes, and GM Mike Maccagnan acknowledged today during a WFAN appearance that Ray Rice is one veteran back whose name has come up, but it doesn’t sound like Rice will be a Jet anytime soon, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com details.

“You know, we’ve talked about that at various points in time,” Maccagnan said. “But I’d probably say that would be one … I’d have to sit down and talk with Todd [Bowles] and Woody [Johnson], but I don’t foresee that at this point in time.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey fully expects running back Jamaal Charles to remain on the team’s roster for 2016, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com notes. “I love him to death, love how dirty tough he is,” Dorsey said of Charles, who is recovering from a torn ACL. “Yeah, he’s a Chief.”
Dorsey also said this week that he’s had “various discussions” with the representatives for Eric Berry, and will continue to talk to Berry’s reps (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). The longtime Chiefs safety is eligible for free agency this winter.
After being eliminated from the playoffs last weekend by the Broncos, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison isn’t ready to make a decision on whether or not he’ll continue his playing career, as he tells Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If you were to ask me something like that right after a loss, nobody wants to go out with a loss,” Harrison said. “It’s going to be an immediate, ‘Yeah, I’m coming back,’ not taking into account everything else. Right now, I’m not ready to make that decision.”
The Dolphins have been tight-lipped about what they plan to do with former first-round pick Dion Jordan, whose substance abuse suspension is expected to run through at least April 27, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. It’s hard to imagine Jordan playing another game for the team, even if he’s reinstated this spring.

Jason Fitzgerald on Kaepernick, Free Agency, Rams

December 19th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com answered a variety of questions on Twitter last night. The conversation focused on the upcoming offseason, and the writer did his best to make some early predictions. We’ve compiled the best of them, which you can find below…

Fitzgerald is convinced that the 49ers will be able to trade quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With a maximum $14.3MM cap hit (due to the $1MM savings if the team decides to deactivate him), the writer believes the Eagles could be a good fit for the embattled star.
Among the big-name players who could switch teams in free agency are (according to Fitzgerald) Alex Mack, Matt Forte, Russell Okung, Prince Amukamara, and Lamar Miller.
On the flip, Fitzgerald could imagine several big names being cut loose by their current teams, including Jamaal Charles, Jimmy Graham and DeMarcus Ware.
One of Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins will be back with the Rams next year, with Fitzgerald predicting an $8MM contract for Jenkins and $6MM for Johnson.
Assuming Marshawn Lynch‘s tenure in Seattle is over, Fitzgerald could envision the Patriots pursuing the running back. However, the writer is uncertain whether New England would have much interest.

AFC West Notes: Charles, Raiders, Broncos

December 8th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

When the 2016 season begins, Jamaal Charles will be coming off his second major knee injury, and will be on the verge of turning 30 years old, practically ancient for a running back. However, the standout running back remains under contract with the Chiefs for two more years, and he intends to come back strong for Kansas City next season, as he tells Dave Skretta of The Associated Press.

“That’s the goal,” Charles said. “I had 11 [games] left in the season when I [tore my ACL], so it’s a lot of time to come back from it. The way I’m moving, I’ll be back before the season starts. I want to be back. I want to play. I want to be out there again.”

Here’s more from around the AFC West:

In the wake of a Monday report which suggested that Oakland city leaders had spoken to the NFL about a possible new stadium near the O.co Coliseum site, NFL executive VP Eric Grubman tells Matthew Artz of the Contra Costa Times that the league isn’t offering any more help to keep the Raiders in Oakland than it would to help to keep the Rams in St. Louis or the Chargers in San Diego. However, Grubman did confirm that the NFL is open to discussing the Coliseum City development with Oakland.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said on Monday that rookie linebacker Neiron Ball, who has missed six straight games due to a knee injury, will likely land on the injured reserve list, which would open up a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com has the details.
The Broncos had already been battling some injury issues at safety, and now will be without David Bruton for the next week or two, as Mike Klis of 9NEWS writes. Having signed Josh Bush last week to compensate for being without T.J. Ward, the club may not to add another safety this week, but that decision likely won’t have to be made until closer to Sunday.

Chiefs Place Jamaal Charles On IR

October 13th, 2015 at 3:48pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs have officially ended Jamaal Charles‘ season, placing their star running back on injured reserve due to a torn ACL, the team announced today (via Twitter). To replace Charles on the roster, running back Spencer Ware has been elevated from Kansas City’s practice squad.

With Charles out, Knile Davis and Charcandrick West are expected to vie for carries in Kansas City. However, once Charles landed on IR, Davis and West were the only running backs on the roster, so it made sense that the Chiefs would want to add a third back for depth purposes.

Initially, it appeared that the Chiefs might opt for a free agent, as the team brought in notable veterans like Ben Tate and Pierre Thomas for workouts. Head coach Andy Reid indicated yesterday though that the club would look in-house first, and that’s what led to the promotion of Ware from the practice squad.

Ware, who turns 24 next month, was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2013 draft by the Seahawks. The LSU product started his NFL career as a fullback, but attempted to transition to tailback before he was cut by Seattle in 2014. To date, Ware has only totaled 10 yards on three carries in his NFL career.

Jamaal Charles Has Torn ACL

October 12th, 2015 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs’ worst fears have been confirmed. An MRI revealed that star running back Jamaal Charles has torn his ACL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Losing Charles is obviously a huge blow to a Chiefs club that, after Sunday’s close loss to Chicago, sits at 1-4. In an AFC West the features the undefeated Broncos, the .500 Chargers, and the upstart Raiders, a serious injury to Charles could be a death knell for Kansas City. The 28-year-old Charles was his usual self early on in the 2015 campaign, averaging more than five yards per carry and scoring five times.

If Charles is out for the year, the Chiefs will turn to a combination of second-year pro Charcandrick West and third-year man Knile Davis. Davis had been the primary backup to Charles since the former’s rookie year, but Kansas City’s backfield has seen something of a changing of the guard in recent weeks, with West seeing the majority of the snaps behind Charles. A timeshare would probably make the most sense if the Chiefs are forced to play with Charles.

Charles missed most of the 2011 season with an ACL injury, though it was his left knee that was damaged four years ago.

Chiefs Fear Jamaal Charles Has Torn ACL

October 11th, 2015 at 3:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

3:55pm: Speaking to reporters, including Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link), Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that initial tests have diagnosed Charles with a torn ACL.

3:34pm: The Chiefs appear to have lost their most important offensive player for the remainder of the season, as the “initial fear” is that running back Jamaal Charles suffered a torn right ACL during today’s game against the Bears, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Charles will undergo an MRI to determine the full extent of the injury.

Losing Charles would obviously be a huge blow to a Chiefs club that, after today’s close loss to Chicago, sits a 1-4. In an AFC West the features the undefeated Broncos, the .500 Chargers, and the upstart Raiders, a serious injury to Charles could be a death knell for Kansas City. The 28-year-old Charles had been his usual self so far during the 2015 campaign, averaging more than five yards per carry an scoring five times.

If Charles is out for the year, the Chiefs will turn to a combination of second-year pro Charcandrick West and third-year man Knile Davis. Davis had been the primary backup to Charles since the former’s rookie year, but Kansas City’s backfield has seen something of a changing of the guard in recent weeks, with West seeing the majority of the snaps behind Charles. A timeshare would probably make the most sense if the Chiefs are forced to play with Charles.

Charles missed most of the 2011 season with an ACL injury, though it was his left knee that was damaged four years ago.

Extra Points: Clowney, Charles, Nelson, Carr

June 14th, 2015 at 8:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL as we wrap up the weekend…

Jadeveon Clowney‘s rookie campaign was cut short by injuries, but Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is confident the first-overall pick will be fully healthy by the start of the season. “I think he’s gonna be there for the opening game against Kansas City,” O’Brien told Michael Silver of NFL.com. “I think he’s going to make it back, and I’m really looking forward to that. He’s working very hard to get back.”
While Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles has struggled through assorted injuries during his career, the 28-year-old is optimistic that he can play at least another half-decade in the NFL. “(The game) has changed,” Charles told Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star. “They’ve got all kinds of technology now, all kinds of medicine people have come up with to stay healthy. At the end of the day, an ACL you couldn’t play (with), it was the end of a career. Now they’ve got all kinds of things that you can be back in like five or four months. The future is changing, football is changing, sports are just changing…I want to play another six years, so my form is to keep on taking my diet. I’m seeing guys at 37 or 38 still playing football in the trenches, and that’s somewhere where you don’t want to play.”
Packers wideout Jordy Nelson told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his recovery from hip surgery is on track (Twitter link). The receiver noted that he received no warning prior to playing a softball game, indicating that the injury is no longer an issue. “Not a single person said anything,” Nelson said. “I was kind of shocked.”
Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News believes if cornerback Brandon Carr doesn’t live up to his salary in 2015, the Cowboys shouldn’t have any issue cutting him. The team will have a better idea of Bryon Jones‘ talents, and they’ll also get a year to evaluate the oft-injured Morris Claiborne.

AFC Notes: Jets, Colts, Richardson, Rivers, Charles

April 19th, 2015 at 7:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have question marks surrounding their first-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, with a number of players making sense for the team. Geno Smith is a question mark at best, therefore Marcus Mariota could be in play if he slips to No. 6, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Cimini also examines the possibility of the team selecting offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, but points the Jets towards a pass rusher or receiver instead.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC:

The Colts have a lack of depth along the defense, and could dramatically improve their team through the draft despite picking so late in the first-round. The team could stand to add along the defensive line, safety, and corner with high draft picks, according to Stephen Holder of IndyStar.com.
Trent Richardson‘s grievance over having the final year of his contract voided by the Colts still looms over the 2015 season, but this is not unusual as the timeline for these proceedings can often take a while, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. He writes that he wouldn’t be surprised if the team is forced to pay a portion of his 2015 salary, but doesn’t expect the Colts will be on the hook for the whole thing.
The Titans’ attempts at acquiring Philip Rivers from the Chargers may all be for show, but the deal makes a lot of sense to many NFL pundits, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. Wyatt breaks down the possible compensation that would be included in order to make the deal happen, based on a number of different opinions.
Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles has been one of the consistent, driving forces of the team’s offense for most of the past six years (excluding the torn-ACL season from 2011), and has been outspoken after the offense took a step back in 2014, writes the Associated Press on USAToday.com. He specifically pointed to the offensive line as a part of the team that needs improving. “I definitely want them to address that,” he said. “I’m not a GM, so I can’t do that job. But it was challenging last year playing with guys — some got hurt, some got suspended. So it was hard playing. I never knew how crucial it was to my career that I needed linemen.”