KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles underwent exploratory surgery on his right knee Wednesday afternoon, one day after the team placed the All-Pro on injured reserve.
July 24, 2014; St. Joseph, MO; Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles answering questions about his new contract extension following the first full practice of training camp. Credit: Matt Derrick, ChiefsDigest.com
Orthopedic surgeon James Andrews examined Charles earlier this week and recommended the procedure. Andrews also performed the original surgery on the running back’s torn anterior cruciate ligament in October last year.
Andrews believes Charles may have a meniscus tear in the knee causing pain and swelling, according to the team’s head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder.
“He had some damage in that meniscus before,” Burkholder said, “and Dr. Andrews wants to see whether it’s got a little flap in it or something that’s causing his discomfort.”
The team first indicated an issue with the right knee of Charles following the week six game against the Oakland Raiders. Coach Andy Reid indicated the running back developed swelling after practice before the week seven matchup against New Orleans, and the team listed him questionable for the game.
“After the Oakland game, he had more discomfort than he was having,” Burkholder said. “That’s when we were going back-and-forth with practice – partial practice, no practice.”
Charles proved a game-time decision, and did suit up, but played just two snaps against the Saints. The team held him out of the week eight matchup against Indianapolis.
The team offered no timetable on recovery for the veteran back, or whether an option remains to designate his return from injured reserve later this season.
“We’ll know more after Dr. Andrews is in there and looks at everything in his knee,” Burkholder said. “He’s going to examine everything, and then, he’ll let us know.”
———-
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
———-
