June 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles goes through position drills on Day One of mandatory minicamp at the team’s training facility. (Rex Wolf/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (knee) made his return Tuesday to the practice field on the first day of mandatory minicamp.
Sporting a sleeve on his right knee, Charles participated in the stretching portion of practice and individual position drills. He did not participate in team-related drills.
Charles, who enters his ninth professional season, underwent surgery in October to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He missed the recently-concluded organized team activities (OTAs), but was observed doing rehabilitation work three times during OTAs.
Tuesday marked the first time Charles worked out with his teammates since Oct. 9. He suffered the season-ending ACL tear against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 11.
While Charles made his return, the Chiefs were still down players.
Outside lineback Justin Houston (knee), outside linebacker Tamba Hali (knee), right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (illness), tight end Travis Kelce (illness), wide receiver Mike Williams (hamstring), rookie cornerback D.J. White (hamstring) and rookie cornerback Shannon Edwards (hamstring) did not practice.
White and Edwards were on the field, however, observing the workout.
Safety Eric Berry, who has yet to sign his franchise tender and is not under contract, was also not present for the first day of minicamp.
Meanwhile, inside linebacker Justin March, who returns from microfracture surgery on his right knee, and tight end James O’Shaughnessy, who returns from a foot injury, passed their physicals and are a full-go for minicamp.
March and O’Shaughnessy participated in the recently-concluded organized team activities.
Running back Charcandrick West and cornerback Phillip Gaines were present on the practice field. West missed the final three days of OTAs with an illness, while Gaines, who returns from an ACL injury, was given a rest day on the last day of OTAs.
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Herbie Teope is the lead beat writer and reporter for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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