Jamaal Charles Injury: Updates on Chiefs Star's Recovery from Knee Surgery

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 1 and underwent knee surgery on Nov. 2. He had knee surgery on his other knee on Nov. 14. He will not return this season.

Continue for updates.

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Charles Comments on Injury and Recovery

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Charles posted on his website, detailing the injury that ended his season, noting it was an injury in practice that led to him shutting it down for the year:

"

We were running through some drills, and when I went to make a cut, my leg just locked up. It wasn't painful—there was just something weird about it. It locked up, and I couldn't walk. I had to be carted off the field. They did an MRI, but you couldn't tell what was going on or what was wrong with me. After you have a knee surgery like I had, it's hard to tell from an MRI what's going on. I just knew for myself that even after they worked on my leg, something wasn't right. I wasn't the same.

At that point, I had to make a decision to play with the injury or sit out. That week, we were playing New Orleans and I tried to give it a go, but it was still feeling the same. I think I had one carry in that game, and it just didn't feel right. So I told my running back coach I couldn't go anymore, and sat the rest of that one out. I wanted to see what would happen the following week, and if it would get any better with a little time.

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Charles said that he was playing with his daughter, and when she grabbed his leg it "locked up, just like it had at practice." The running back added that the incident "really allowed me to put things in perspective as it related to my family instead of my career."

Charles also said he was diagnosed with a meniscus tear and opted for surgery because he didn't want to be "tentative on the field, wondering if my leg could lock up at any time."

Charles also discussed his future and the potential of returning next season:

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I honestly don't know what the future holds for me. I know it's God’s will and God's purpose to determine what's next for me. I'm just thankful. I'm thankful for my friends and my family, and the people that surround me and support me through these humbling experiences. This is another crisis, another time falling down, but I know I'll always get back up. ...

What I do know is that I still want to play football. I was only 29 years old this season. My goal right now is to just focus on the now and my rehab and let the rest sort itself out later.

"

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Charles Out for Season

Thursday, Dec. 22

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Dec. 21 that Charles will not return for the playoffs after the Chiefs opted to activate Justin March-Lillard off injured reserve.

On Dec. 22, Rapoport noted that had the Chiefs not made that decision, "Charles likely would've been cleared to practice next week" and could have played in January.

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Charles Placed on IR

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Ed Werder of ESPN reported Dr. James Andrews couldn't pinpoint the source of Charles' knee pain, which led to his placement on injured reserve.

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Charles Struggled to Bounce Back from 2nd Major Injury

Charles is one of the league's most dynamic offensive weapons when healthy, but he's struggled to get back to full strength after suffering a torn ACL in October 2015.

He appeared in just three games in 2016, carrying the ball 12 times for 40 yards and one touchdown. He tallied a single carry in the team's Week 7 victory over the New Orleans Saints after getting 11 touches the previous week against the Oakland Raiders.

Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West have picked up the slack in Charles' absence.