Running back Jamaal Charles continued expanding his workload in his second game back in his recovery from knee surgery last October. The All-Pro back carried nine times for 33 yards and touchdown while also catching two passes for 14 yards Sunday against the Raiders.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles breaks a run against the Oakland Raiders Oct. 16, 2016 at the Oakland Coliseum. (Photo courtesy Chiefs PR, Chiefs.com).
“It was just great to see him in the end zone,” coach Andy Reid said Monday, “it was great to see him run hard and not shy away from contact or anything. He looked like he was all in.”
Charles said last week that during his previous return from knee surgery, took five to six games before he felt back to normal. Reid said his star still needs to build his stamina.
“There was a point there where we were feeding him a little bit and he was breathing hard, but he was loving every minute of it and wanted more and that’s good,” Reid said.
That suggests the Chiefs will continue to sprinkle Charles into the offense slowly, allowing Spencer Ware to do the heavy lifting in the meantime.
“Is he ready to carry it every down?” Reid asked. “I don’t think that’s where we’re at right this minute, but he got more carries than he did against Pittsburgh.”
Charles played just 10 snaps against Pittsburgh with two rushing attempts. Charles expanded his work to 15 snaps against Oakland, while Ware played 40 snaps and Charcandrick West eight.
Reid said Charles got exactly the workload he wanted to give him.
“He came out of the game feeling good, he came out of the game wanting more and that’s kind of how I wanted it there,” Reid said.
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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.
