Jamaal Charles is ready to get back to playing football. IN 2011, Charles suffered a knee injury that sidelined him during the second week off the season. Charles essentially missed the whole 2011 season, which saw the offense that was built around him struggle to a disappointing 7-9 record.
In 2009, Charles busted on to the scene carrying the ball 190 times, amassing 1,120 yards on the ground and finding the end zone on seven of those carries. Most of Charles’ production came late in the season after it became evident it was time for Chiefs and long time running back Larry Johnson to separate ways.
The following season, Charles became a fantasy stud, and a regular feature on sports highlight shows. Charles accumulated 1,935 yards total offense and scored eight touchdowns on the season. Entering in to 2011, there was a lot of expectations set, not only on Charles, but the whole Kansas City team. Unfortunately for Chiefs fans and Charles, things didn’t go as planned. After Charles was injured in the first game, the wind was almost gone from Kansas City’s sails.
The only positive from 2011 for Charles was his injury happened early, and he has had ample time to recover for this season.
Charles production has increased in each of his four NFL seasons. (Until the injury) As the primary weapon in Kansas City, Charles should have a monster year in 2012 both on the ground and by air. Questions still surround the status of Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs number one receiving target, meaning Charles may become even more featured in the passing game.
Newly acquired Peyton Hillis will probably snag goal line and short distance carries from Charles. This will limit Charles’ touchdown numbers, but a player with the dynamic skill set that Charles possess, should still carry your team to the Fantasy Football playoffs, and very possibly the young Kansas City Chiefs to the NFL playoffs where the Chiefs haven’t won a game since 1994.
["Image by .A.A. via Flickr"]
Less than a year removed from suffering a torn anterior cruciate that ended his 2011 season, Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles feels as though he has regained something that eluded Austin Powers in “The Spy Who Shagged Me” and currently is missing from Mike Mularkey’s first training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Charles said Wednesday, via the Kansas City Star. “I feel happy, I feel comfortable out there and I’m ready to go.”…More at Jamaal Charles ready for return with Kansas City Chiefs – NFL News ["Image by kansas_city_royalty via Flickr"]
More Reading
- Kansas City Chiefs: Is Jon Baldwin Making Dwayne Bowe Expendable? – Bleacher Report
- KC Chiefs Training Camp Schedule For Thursday – Arrowhead Pride (blog)
