National Football League

Kansas City RB Jamaal Charles injures left knee

Published Sep. 19, 2011 12:14 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles was carted off the field midway through the first quarter Sunday with a left knee injury, and coach Todd Haley said after the game the team was still awaiting a definitive word on his status.

Charles, who rushed for 1,467 yards last season, was lunging toward the first down mark along the Detroit sideline when he was pushed out of bounds by defensive back Chris Houston. He collided with the legs of Detroit's mascot and immediately began clutching his left leg.

The All-Pro back did not return to the game, which the Chiefs lost 48-3 to the Lions.

''We'll probably know a lot more on him here in the next 12 hours or so,'' Haley said.

It appeared Charles might have hurt himself while planting the leg as he went out of bounds - he seemed unwilling or unable to plant it again as he fell to the ground.

Charles also appeared unable to put any weight on his left leg as he was helped onto the cart.

The 24-year-old Charles has rushed for over 1,100 yards each of the last two seasons, and his injury was the latest bit of bad news already for Kansas City this season. The Chiefs, who won the AFC West last season, were routed 41-7 by Buffalo in their opener.

In the opener against Buffalo, the Chiefs lost Pro Bowl defensive back Eric Berry to a season-ending injury - also to the left knee and also in the first quarter.

Even with Charles sidelined, the Chiefs rushed for 151 yards in the game. Thomas Jones had 40 on a team-high 12 carries.

Jones actually had more carries than Charles last season and rushed for 896 yards.