The Chiefs are playing for first place in the AFC West tonight despite not having the player who, when healthy, would be their best offensive playmaker. In the playoffs, they may have him on the field.
The Chiefs are expecting to have running back Jamaal Charles back for the start of the playoffs, if they make the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Charles played in just five games last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. This year he has played in just three games and has had two more knee surgeries, although both of them were viewed as minor cleanup procedures.
If Charles returns and looks like the Jamaal Charles of old, that would be a huge boost to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl aspirations. Unfortunately, Charles wasn’t able to do much of anything during the three games he played this year, and it seems like a stretch to think he could get back on the field in January and be the kind of impact player he once was.
The Chiefs would save $7 million on their 2017 salary cap if they cut Charles in the offseason, so there’s a good chance that he’s going to be moving on from Kansas City after the season. It would be nice to see him get a playoff swan song.