Jamaal Charles gets chance to prove doubters wrong vs. Packers
By Matt Conner
Jamaal Charles gets a chance to prove what’s left in the tank when the Broncos take the field on Saturday against the Packers.
Jamaal Charles said he took it personally. When the Kansas City Chiefs released their star running back early in the offseason, Charles later clarified that it was personal. It came out that the Chiefs didn’t offer a chance for the veteran to restructure his contract, meaning they decided to simply clear the deck and move on from the most successful back in franchise history.
It wasn’t a huge surprise given his inability to stay on the field these last two years. Multiple knee surgeries had only allowed Charles to play in 8 games over two years. Perhaps the Chiefs tired of the guess work or maybe didn’t believe that another round of rehab would provide a long-term solution. In cutting ties, they also set free what could be a prized offensive asset for another team to grab. In this case, that team became the Denver Broncos.
Charles’s signing with the Broncos drew the ire of fans immediately, especially after Charles mentioned to the media and on Twitter how much he’d admired the Broncos for a long time, even idolizing John Elway as a kid. From there, Charles has said all the right things about being healthy and ready to hit the field, to pick up where he left off.
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If that’s the case, the Broncos are going to have a nice surprise on their hands given that Charles is the NFL’s all time leader in yards/carry. So far in the preseason, the Broncos have taken it easy with Charles, allowing him to get back into game shape, but trainers have cleared him for all activity and the upcoming third game of the preseason is going to be the test. Head coach Vance Joseph said Charles will get plenty of carries on Saturday when Denver faces the Green Bay Packers.
"“This is going to be Jamaal’s shot to go do his thing. He knows it. He’s ready,” Joseph said."
The Broncos could certainly use a boost to keep defenses respecting the running game. De’Angelo Henderson looks like a nice find in the sixth round, so the Broncos aren’t without options, but a likely combo of C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker, who is injured for the next several weeks, is a backfield in need of an upgrade. Elway and Joseph certainly hope Charles can provide it.