Jamaal Charles Injury: Update on Kansas City Chiefs Star's Knee Injury

The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar RB, Jamaal Charles, was carted off Ford Field today with a knee injury.

The injury didn’t look bad live, but the replay clearly shows that Charles planted his knee as he was stretching for extra yards towards the sidelines. Charles tumbled to the sidelines and collided with the Lions mascot.

Charles couldn’t even make an effort to get up and he was clutching his knee.

After a commercial break, Charles was seen with his helmet next to him and being carted off, which is horrifying news for the fading Chiefs and Charles’ fantasy owners.

Update: The Associated Press has confirmed that Charles is out for at least the remainder of the game, saying that "the injury appeared significant."

Fantasy Impact

Charles was a Top Five pick in nearly every single draft we participated in. This injury is devastating to fantasy owners for this week and potentially beyond. We do not know the extent of the injury, but it did not look good. It’s never good when a player is forced to be carted off.

If Charles is out for an extended period of time, fantasy owners may have to kiss their season goodbye, unless they can make a big trade or work the waiver wire like a true legend.

Who’s the Backup?

Veteran workhorse Thomas Jones is the backup we all know about. Le’Ron McClain would see some carries, but it’s all about T.J.

Jones is a phenomenal downhill runner. He is on his last legs, but he is still one of the most powerful and underrated runners in the NFL. He would be capable of 1,000 yards and nearly double-digit touchdowns if Charles is forced to miss the entire season.

You will also see second-year all-purpose man Dexter McCluster used a lot. He is a similar type of explosive player as Charles and often lines up in the backfield and at wide receiver. He is the perfect complement to Jones’ bruising rushing style. McCluster is already being used in the backfield and would be a must-have for all owners.

Devastation Scale: 10/10

This is the worst possible news for the Chiefs and Charles’ fantasy owners. The Chiefs have been bitten hard by the injury bug—most to the ACL. Tony Moeaki was lost for the season in the preseason finale with an ACL injury and Eric Berry was lost in the season opener last week with an ACL injury suffered on a Stevie Williams block.

This could very well be an ACL injury for all we know, which would keep Charles out for the rest of the season. The Chiefs would be without their most explosive playmaker and wouldn’t even come close to sniffing the postseason.

Without Charles, KC could easily become the worst team in the NFL.

Timeline for Return

The extent of the injury remains to be seen. If it’s an ACL tear, Charles will be lost for the season.

We can only hope he merely sprained his knee and will only miss four-to-six weeks. Still, Charles is the type of back that thrives on his speed and agility. He makes defenders look stupid with his cut-back and juking ability. If he is unable to plant his knee because it isn’t at full strength, he’s no good to his fantasy owners or the Chiefs.

What They’re Saying

He may not be the real John Madden, but he still makes sense.

“Jamaal Charles carted off field with knee injury. The Andrew Luck sweepstakes just found another contender,” tweeted Faux John Madden.

He’s 100 percent right. If Charles is out, the Chiefs can essentially kiss their season goodbye. They’ll be in a dogfight with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks for Andrew Luck.

I guess it could be worse.