The Chiefs are fighting for a playoff spot and they expect running back Jamaal Charles to play a leading role in that effort this week.
Charles’s status was in some question this week because he emerged from last weekend’s loss to the Cardinals with a tender knee and ankle that kept him from practicing on Wednesday. Charles was back at practice on Thursday, however, and he worked again on Friday to leave the Chiefs feeling good about his status for Sunday.
Coach Andy Reid said, via Herbie Teope of the Associated Press, that he anticipates Charles playing without restrictions against the Raiders on Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
That shifts the question to what kind of role Reid envisions for Charles this week. Charles has carried the ball just 20 times across the last two weeks, leading to renewed howls that the Chiefs head coach isn’t getting as much out of his best offensive player as he could or should be getting. He had 19 carries for 80 yards and four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting between the AFC West teams this year.
