The Kansas City Chiefs lost their best offensive player on September 18 of last season, when tailback Jamaal Charles tore his left ACL against the Detroit Lions. In hindsight, the Chiefs are probably happy the injury occurred so early last season. Charles has had ample time to recuperate.
Chris Mortensen reported on ESPN 32 late Friday that the Chiefs have “no concerns whatsoever” about Charles’ readiness for the 2012 season. Though Charles won’t practice until training camp, his absence from OTAs is purely a precaution. The Chiefs have held fellow ACL patients Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki out of spring practices, too.
Mort stated that the Chiefs are “excited” about Charles’ potential in their new offense, run by former Browns and Dolphins coordinator Brian Daboll.
With Daboll as offensive coordinator in Miami last year, Reggie Bush broke out for a career-high 1,086 rushing yards while averaging over five yards per attempt and running more decisively in between the tackles than ever before. Daboll also oversaw breakout seasons from Peyton Hillis (2010) and Jerome Harrison (2009) the previous two years in Cleveland.