Jamaal Charles injury update: Broncos hope for “full speed by training camp”
By Matt Conner
Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph says the team hopes to have running back Jamaal Charles up to full speed by training camp.
The Denver Broncos stepped out after the 2017 NFL Draft to take a chance on oft-injured running back Jamaal Charles in the hopes of finding a motivated player ready to bounce back after some frustrating seasons of bad luck. New Broncos head coach Vance Joseph says they will let Charles rehab at his own pace throughout the spring and early summer in the hopes that he’ll be at “full speed” by the time preseason football is ready to roll around.
Speaking from a charity event held by former Broncos player and current San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, Joseph updated the press on their hopes for Charles.
"“We’re hoping to get Jamaal full speed by training camp,” Joseph said. “He’s going to rehab and have some time to get healthy during the entire OTAs and the entire summer. Our goal for Jamaal is to have him on the field during training camp.”"
The former Chiefs running back has only played in 8 total games the last two seasons, and Chiefs general manager John Dorsey decided to officially part ways with Charles early in the offseason. The Chiefs apparently didn’t even offer to restructure his deal, but instead just outright released him when Charles was going to count over $6 million against the cap. Charles took things personal and spoke out about the entire affair after signing with the Broncos.
When healthy, Charles is a game-changing back who is the NFL’s all-time leader in yards/carry in his career. It’s unclear whether the Broncos will ever employ that player or not, but the idea frightens many Chiefs fans. That said, Dorsey moved on by trading up in the draft to get Kareem Hunt, a rookie back from Toledo he described as the best of the second tier options—presumably after Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey and, maybe, Dalvin Cook.