KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs won’t have running back Jamaal Charles available Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, coach Andy Reid said Friday.
The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line takes part in Friday drills in their final workouts ahead of their game against the Indianapolis Colts at the team’s training complex Oct. 28, 2016. (Photo by Matt Derrick, ChiefsDigest.com).
“The knee was up and down,” Reid said. “We just want to back him off here and see if we can’t get that thing to settle down.”
While the team plays without Charles, indications point to starters Mitchell Schwartz and Phillip Gaines playing this weekend. Schwartz sustained an ankle sprain, and Gaines has also been up and down with his own recovery from ACL surgery.
The Chiefs said Charles developed inflammation in his surgically repaired knee last week during practice. His participation in week seven against the Saints proved a game time decision, although the veteran back remained limited to just two snaps.
Caution with Charles’ return remains the key for Reid, who said the team wants to be smart with all players battling injuries.
“That’s what you try to do,” Reid said. “We’re never going to put him out there if it’s not right. That’s not going to happen.”
Reid said the team has no plans to activate running backs Darrin Reaves or Zac Brooks from the practice squad. The team signed Brooks earlier this week.
That means the team will play Sunday with just Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West in the backfield.
“We’re all right with that,” Reid said. “Some of the young guys can play there.”
Those young guys would appear to be wide receivers De’Anthony Thomas and Tyreek Hill. Reid said after the team’s game two weeks ago against Oakland both players could be pressed into emergency duty in the backfield.
“De’Anthony could go in at running back in an emergency situation — likewise Tyreek Hill could,” Reid said at the time. “We just had enough running backs up for what we needed.”
The Chiefs will also be without cornerback D.J. White and offensive lineman Jordan Devey. White underwent surgery for a broken hand earlier this week, while Devey sprained his ankle in practice Thursday.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
OUT: TE Dwayne Allen, DE Kendall Langford, OLB Curt Maggitt, WR Chester Rogers, DT Henry Anderson and G Jack Mewhort
QUESTIONABLE: WR Donte Moncrief
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: TE Dwayne Allen (ankle), DE Kendall Langford (knee), OLB Curt Maggitt (ankle), WR Chester Rogers (hamstring/foot), DT Henry Anderson (knee), G Jack Mewhort (tricep) and Erik Walden (not injury related)
Limited participation:
Full participation: S Mike Adams (shin), CB Vontae Davis (not injury related), RB Frank Gore (not injury related), OLB Robert Mathis (not injury related), WR Phillip Dorsett (hamstring), DT Zach Kerr (ankle), WR Donte Moncrief (shoulder), T/G Joe Reitz (back), QB Andrew Luck (right shoulder/ankle) T.Y. Hilton (hip) and ILB D’Qwell Jackson (not injury related)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: RB Jamaal Charles, CB D.J. White and OL Jordan Devey
QUESTIONABLE: T Mitchell Schwartz
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LB Tamba Hali (knee), CB D.J. White (hand), RB Jamaal Charles and OL Jordan Devey (ankle)
Limited participation: None
Full participation: T Mitchell Schwartz (ankle) and CB Phillip Gaines (knee)
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
Follow @MattDerrick
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