KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is the first rusher in team history to record 1,000 yards rushing or more four times.
And Charles, who achieved the feat in Week 12 and has 1,011 yards rushing on the season, is fully aware what his accomplishment means.
Dec 1, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs the ball as Denver Broncos outside linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) attempts the tackle during the first half of the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
“I grew up watching Priest Holmes, and I played with Larry Johnson and some of the great running backs who came through here and played,” Charles said during Thursday’s locker room media session. “So to be up there with some of the top running backs in the Chiefs franchise, I think that’s big.”
The sixth-year pro said he wants to continue making history. And if records fall during his career, the two-time Pro Bowl running back is fine with that.
“I mean, records don’t stand for long,” Charles said. “Somebody will come in and break my records one day as well. I’m just speechless and blessed to be just able to say that I’m happy and continue to strive to be better.”
Charles also moved up in team history in career carries. The 19 attempts he recorded in Week 12 give Charles 1,003 for his career, making him the fifth player in Chiefs history to have more than 1,000 attempts.
He joins Johnson (1,375), Holmes (1,321), Christian Okoye (1,246) and Ed Podolak (1,157).
Meanwhile, NFL fans are also aware of what Charles has done this season.
The Chiefs’ start running back currently ranks in the top five of Pro Bowl balloting and he joked as to why he’s receiving so many votes.
“Probably most of those guys are fantasy football people,” Charles said with a laugh. “I think that’s where some of the drive is.”
Ultimately, Charles concedes he appreciates the attention, but he has a bigger goal in mind.
“It’s good to get the good looks, the Pro Bowl, to break records,” Charles said. “But at the end of the day I want to be able to win the Super Bowl just to say at the end of my career that I was able to win a Super Bowl.”
Plan B
Starting tight end Anthony Fasano (concussion, knee) missed a second straight day of practice Thursday, putting his status in doubt for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.
Potentially not having Fasano will impact the offense, as the eighth-year pro has scored a touchdown in three straight games and has emerged as a reliable red zone target.
Sean McGrath should draw the start and he has experience filling in for Fasano, who missed Weeks 3-6 with an ankle injury. McGrath has appeared in all 12 games and has 21 catches for 257 yards and a touchdown on the season.
Still, Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson may have tipped the team’s hand as to Fasano’s availability, telling reporters that tight end Dominque Jones will back up McGrath.
“He’s a guy that’s been here, he’s got some experience,” Pederson said of Jones. “He’s going to have some opportunities this weekend to play. We’re looking forward to getting him out there still using our two-tight end sets and letting them both go.”
Of course, the Chiefs will first have to elevate Jones from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Status quo on defense
The Chiefs have slipped in numerous defensive statistical categories since returning from a Week 10 bye.
Of note, the defensive secondary has taken a pounding, allowing 1,113 total yards passing in three games and nine touchdown passes, including four from 26 yards or more.
But despite the troubles, don’t expect wholesale changes to a unit that thrived in the first nine games.
Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said Thursday there wouldn’t be personnel adjustments and indicated hope the team could fight through it.
“We talk about our personnel every week,” Sutton said. “I would say that it’s not that we didn’t give thought to anything at any position. We elected to stay where we’re at and see if we can move forward from there.”
Davis exudes confidence
Rookie running back Knile Davis been used sparingly on offense this season, totaling 140 yards (95 rushing, 65 receiving).
But he turned heads in Week 12 after electrifying Arrowhead Stadium with a team-record 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said during Thursday’s media session there’s no doubt the rookie running back’s confidence has grown.
And that confidence is mutual from the coaching staff.
“Early in the year, we were having a hard time catching the ball in practice,” Toub said. “Now he’s catching all the balls and we feel confident in him. He’s getting confidence, obviously, in the game having production like he did.”
Toub adds Davis’ skillset is unique to any player he’s coached, a compliment when considering Toub once had returner supreme Devin Hester in Chicago.
“His combination of size and speed is different than any other guys that I’ve had,” Toub said of Davis. “The closest one would be Danieal Manning; he was that type of guy. Not the leader that this guy is, (Davis) is a running back, so he has the ability to see things coming ahead of time and make people miss.”
Notes: Starting left tackle Branden Albert (knee) and starting outside linebacker Justin Houston (elbow) missed a second straight day of practice … Houston was observed at the Chiefs training facility with a black brace on his right arm.
