Charles 'questionable' to return after leaving game with apparent ankle injury
It doesn't just rain on the injury front for the Kansas City Chiefs these days.
Baby, it pours.
Having already lost Pro Bowl inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and starting defensive end Mike DeVito for the season during a Week 1 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs suffered an even bigger blow to their offense during the first quarter of today's matchup in Denver: Star running back Jamaal Charles, who led all NFL backs in total touchdowns scored last fall (19), left the game with what appeared to be an ankle problem and is "questionable" to return.
The injury apparently took place with 9:29 to go in the first period, when Charles took a handoff up the middle and was grabbed around the neck by Broncos safety T.J. Ward.
As Ward threw Charles to the ground, the back appeared to get his left ankle rolled by teammate Anthony Sherman, the Kansas City fullback who was blocking Denver defensive end DeMarcus Ware on the play. The Texas native got up gingerly and limped off a few seconds later.
After treatment on the sideline, Charles was led off the field and back to the locker room.
The Chiefs' tailback had carried the ball twice for just four yards and recorded one catch for eight yards when he left the game. Charles had recorded just 11 touches total -- and only seven carries -- against Tennessee the weekend before.
It's the second time in the Chiefs' last three regular-season or postseason games that Charles has been knocked out of a game in the first quarter. The Pro Bowler left during the first series of last January's 45-44 AFC Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts with a concussion. Charles was replaced in the backfield today, as he was at Indianapolis, by Knile Davis.
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter @SeanKeeler or email him at seanmkeeler@gmail.com.
