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Running back Jamaal Charles will have to wait a bit longer to make his preseason debut with the Denver Broncos. Charles has been ruled out of Saturday's preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers as he works his way back from knee surgery. He will make his Broncos' debut against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, coach Vance Joseph said Tuesday.
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"That's been the plan for the entire time, to kind of get Jamaal as strong as he can be before we put him on the field," Joseph said. "He is ready to go, it's me holding Jamaal back but he wants to go. He wanted to go last week but the plan was Green Bay, so we're going to stick with that plan. He will practice this week though in San Fran. He's traveling, he will practice, but he won't play Saturday."
Charles signed a one-year contract in May, just three months after being released by Kansas City. The 30-year-old spent nine seasons with the Chiefs and became the club's career rushing leader.
He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection with impressive statistics, but he has played only eight games in the past two seasons combined because of injuries.
Charles tore his right ACL in 2015, costing him all but five games that season. Another knee surgery to repair a meniscus ended his 2016 season after just 12 carries and 40 yards.
Charles has rushed for 7,260 yards, and his career yards-per-carry average of 5.5 ranks first among NFL running backs all-time.
He has rushed for more than 1,000 yards five times, most recently in 2014, when he gained 1,033.
Charles has 285 career receptions for 2,457 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 2013, he caught 70 passes for 693 yards, and seven touchdowns.
