Jamaal Charles: “I just never got an opportunity” with Denver Broncos
By Matt Conner
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles sounds like he regrets ever signing with the Denver Broncos in the first place.
When the Denver Broncos announced they’d signed running back Jamaal Charles to a one-year deal, the former Kansas City Chiefs running back made it sound like it was a childhood dream come true. He said he loved watching John Elway growing up and that the Broncos were always a franchise he’d respected and wanted to play for.
A few months later, Charles has changed his tune. Not only have the Broncos not lived up to preseason expectations, going 5-10 through the first 16 weeks of the season, but Charles has played a minor role, a bit part for an offense that has struggled to move the chains. Charles insists he’s healthy and he’s been on the active roster long enough to prove it, but instead the Broncos have suffered through miserable quarterback play and focused their rushing reps on their younger players like C.J. Anderson.
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When asked by reporters at Mile High about the prospect of the Broncos releasing him in a late-season move similar to how the Steelers just waived linebacker James Harrison, Charles agreed that it was something he would welcome.
"“I ain’t playing. Might as well,” he said. “No reason for me to just sit around and look at people play. It is what it is. I’m still going to be supportive of everyone on the team no matter what. I mean, they got my rights right now.”"
Last week was the first week in which Charles was not targeted in the passing game a single time. He also had zero carries. It’s the inevitable end of a waning trend in which Charles began the year with 10 carries in the first game but has only 7 total carries over the last 5 weeks of the season.
Not only did Charles indicate that he desired to play even more this season for someone else but that he’s also wanting to play next year and beyond.
"“At the end of the day, I just got to see what’s the future for me. That’s the next step,” he said. “If it’s somewhere else or if somebody wants to pick me up. That’s the future. I want to play still. I turn 31 (Wednesday). I want to play. I want to see, because I feel like I never got a chance to show people that I can carry the load, so I still want to (show) that I can carry a team. I want an opportunity. That’s all I want.”"
Charles averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the season with 69 total carries for a total of 296 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. He also caught 23 passes for 129 receiving yards for the Broncos.