A year after emerging as arguably the most explosive runner in the game, Chiefs tailback Jamaal Charles missed all but two contests in 2011 with a torn ACL. Based on the history of running backs coming off torn knee ligaments and reconstructive surgery, it’s fair to wonder what Charles might have left for 2012.
He’s optimistic.
“I feel good,” Charles told reporters on Wednesday, per the Kansas City Star. "I feel like I got my mojo back. I feel happy. I feel comfortable out there, and I’m ready to go. My legs feel fresh.” Charles added that he’s able to make cuts like normal on zone plays in the Chiefs’ revised running scheme.
Peyton Hillis, signed this offseason to become the thunder to Charles’ lightning, recently told Jim Trotter of SI.com that Charles still has what it takes to be a special NFL runner.
“When I look at Jamaal Charles, I see so much potential,” Hillis told Trotter. “I see him as one of the best backs in the league. I look up to him. He’s a great player.”