Jamaal Charles Out Indefinitely With High Ankle Sprain

Jamaal Charles can tell you firsthand, Week 2 of the NFL season was not kind to running backs.

Injuries to Ryan Matthews (Chargers), Knowshon Moreno (Dolphins), Ben Tate (Browns), Mark Ingram (Saints), among others, will test each team’s depth chart. Even this early in the season, there are important matchups in the offing.

The Washington Post is reporting that Charles, the Kansas City Chiefs top running back, will be out indefinitely with what’s being reported as a high ankle sprain. High ankle sprains are usually multi-week injuries because the only way to heal them is immobility. Once healed, then Charles can begin trying to cut and rotate as normal, hoping the ankle has healed sufficiently.

Kansas City coach Andy Reid stated Tuesday that the injury “doesn’t seem to be a really severe one.” Still, the Chiefs will rely on backup running back Knile Davis in Charles’ absence. The Chiefs don’t lose a whole lot however, seeing that Davis averaged 22 carries, 5 receptions, 97 yards and scored six touchdowns in 3 games that Jamaal Charles missed last year.

Arrowhead Pride is reporting that coach Andy Reid doesn’t expect much to change with Davis in for Charles, in his fifth year out of Texas.

“I don’t think it would change much from what you saw [Sunday]. He was involved in a lot of different areas. I’m not saying in number of carries. You saw him go and play a few different roles.”

The Chiefs spent a high pick on Davis (third round out of Arkansas) as a backup so they obviously like him and wanted him for a situation just like this. He won’t be Jamaal but he can be a very useful backup player.

The biggest issue for the Chiefs this year is who they’ve lost already. NESN reports that the Chiefs also lost safety Eric Berry in Week 2 to an ankle sprain (higher or lower not specified) and is gone for at least two weeks, and linebacker Derrick Johnson to a ruptured achilles tendon in Week 1 and is done for the year. With games coming up against the Miami Dolphins in Miami in Week 2, then hosting the New England Patriots in Week 4, the Chief’s backups will have to step up and win those two games or the Chiefs will be 0-4 with virtually no chance to make the playoffs.

For the fantasy football fans, it’s also recommended you pick up Davis to replace Charles until Charles is ready to return.

[Image courtesy of Standing O Sports]