KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs on Tuesday made adjustments at the running back position ahead of Week 6’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Aug. 18, 2015; St. Joseph, MO; Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (30) prepares to block linebacker D.J. Alexander (57) during a training camp drill at Missouri Western State University. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Kansas City placed running back Jamaal Charles on season-ending injured reserve, a formality following Monday’s announcement that Charles suffered an ACL tear in his right knee.
The Chiefs elevated second-year running back Spencer Ware from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster, a source familiar with the transaction confirmed Tuesday afternoon with ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Kansas City would later announce Ware’s move, which kept the search for Charles’ replacement in-house a day after Reid alluded to that direction.
“We’ve got Spencer Ware on the practice squad, who we know can play both tailback and fullback,” coach Andy Reid said Monday. “So we’ll look in-house first before we go outside.”
The 5-10, 229-pound Ware entered the league in 2013 out of LSU as a sixth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, who released him in August 2014.
Ware signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs on Dec. 30, 2014, and spent OTAs, minicamp and training camp with the Chiefs. He finished third on the team in rushing during the preseason with 66 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, adding 64 yards receiving on seven catches.
Ware, Charcandrick West and Knile Davis are the running backs on the active roster as the Chiefs attempt to replace Charles’ production.
Wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas can also play running back if needed.
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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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