Kansas City Chiefs’ new running backs provide insurance for Spencer Ware’s injury
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs made it clear on their return to voluntary offseason player workouts that Spencer Ware doesn’t have a firm return date from injury.
Hunt. Ware. West. Hunt.
In 16 letters, you could spell out the already talented and all returning cadre of running backs for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, but that hasn’t stopped an unpredicted level of activity at the position as general manager Brett has made sure to sign both Damien Williams and Kerwynn Williams over the last several days.
Despite the players slated to return, Kareem Hunt is the only guarantee on the roster at the position for the Chiefs. Last year’s third round pick made a great case for Offensive Rookie of the Year as the league’s leading rusher. Beyond that, however, nothing is certain.
Spencer Ware was penciled in as the team’s starting back even above Kareem Hunt last August, but a season-ending injury not only ruined his entire year but apparently it’s even put his playing future in doubt in 2018 as well. When asked about Ware during the opening remarks to reporters at offseason workouts on Monday, Reid stayed cautiously optimistic.
Reid said the Chiefs signed a bunch of RBs this offseason "because you can't have enough of those guys" and "there was availability there." Also said he expects Spencer Ware to be back from injury but "you never know"
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) April 16, 2018
Ware was just learning how to be a feature back when the injury happened, showing both great burst and ability for the position as a two-way threat while also suffering from nagging injuries and a potential lack of stamina (given the lack of experience as the lead back).
Even if Ware returns, there are places for both of the newly signed backs to provide further competition for the depth chart, especially with Charcandrick West and Akeem Hunt also around. Ware is certainly the best of anyone not named Kareem as he showed early in 2016 with a six-game run that rivaled nearly any RB that year. He deserves every shot to reclaim a role on offense.
Next: Predicting the Chiefs primetime games in 2018
That said, the Chiefs’ actions speak quite loud that they want and need some healthy bodies at the position. Maybe that says more about Ware’s current condition than what anyone is admitting.