Nov. 22, 2015; San Diego; Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) during the second half against the Chargers at Qualcomm Field. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs finished Week 11’s game against the San Diego Chargers with Spencer Ware as the last running back standing in the backfield.
Ware took over in the third quarter after Charcandrick West left the contest with a right hamstring injury, while Knile Davis was a healthy inactive for a second straight week.
Coach Andy Reid said during Sunday’s postgame session with reporters that West has a “hamstring strain” and the head coach believes the second-year running back is “day-to-day.”
While the Chiefs could be stretched thin at the running back position if West were to miss time, Reid didn’t sound concerned over depth during a Monday afternoon conference call.
“We have trust in Knile,” Reid said. “So, we’ve got Knile right there, too.”
And it is early enough in the week where the Chiefs can evaluate West’s status heading into Week 12.
“We’ll see with Charcandrick,” Reid said. “I’m not counting him out at all, so we’ll just see how it works out today. They’re doing the MRIs and all those things that they do now. We’ll find out here in a little bit where we’re at.”
But the Chiefs can take comfort in Ware’s performance in the event the team calls his number again.
The 5-10, 229-pound Ware proved his worth in relief of West against the Chargers, gaining 96 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
“I thought Ware stepping up for Charcandrick, I thought that was big,” Reid said. “Just the way he handled himself out there, and then down through the four-minute part of it, the ball security and maturity he showed, I thought was good.”
Should West not be ready for Week 12, Reid has confidence in Ware and Davis to carry the load.
The Chiefs also have running back Darrin Reaves on the practice squad.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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