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Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles still not 100 percent

By The Sports Xchange
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. UPI/Art Foxall
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. UPI/Art Foxall | License Photo

Running back Jamaal Charles is not 100 percent physically and in Sunday's game against New Orleans, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made sure one of his best offensive weapons did not cause any more damage that could restrict him over the long haul of the next 10 games.

Charles was credited with two offensive snaps and he got one carry for no yards in the second quarter. After that play, he was pulled and did not return.

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"His knee acted up after the last game (vs. Oakland) and it was up and down throughout the week," Reid said. "We were doing OK without him in there and I just felt we could get by with that.

"Does he want to play? Yes, he wants to play. It's a long season here and we'll need him as we go. I'm trying to be as patient as possible, to be smart with it."

In Charles' absence, Spencer Ware has become the engine of the Kansas City offense as both runner and receiver. The 24-year-old LSU product owns 777 offensive yards and the longest run and longest pass play (both 46 yards) on the season.

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But Reid said that's not a factor in the halting return of Charles to the huddle.

"It's not one guy is doing better; that has nothing to do with it," said Reid. "We are not hiding something. There's no game involved here."

Without question, the Chiefs have handled Charles' return from a torn ACL in his right knee in a very conservative manner. He did not practice at all during the preseason and did not get on the field for playing time until the fourth game of the season.

Reid said he wants his No. 25 available to him this season.

"His leg wasn't feeling right," Reid said. "He had a little tweak in there. It's not a big thing. But why, why push it? Where we are at right now, why do that? We're trying to be smart with him."

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