For many years, Jamaal Charles gave the Denver Broncos headaches as a member of their AFC rival Kansas City Chiefs. However, now that the Chiefs have cut Charles, he is in Denver looking for a chance to pick up his career once more. According to ESPN, Charles is undergoing a physical and if he passes it, he could end up joining the Broncos for the 2017 NFL season.
Jamaal Charles in Kansas City
Many Denver Broncos fans will remember Jamaal Charles as someone who made their lives miserable. One key moment came in 2010 when Charles ran for 259 yards against the Broncos in a game, one of many huge moments in his NFL career.
While playing with the Kansas City Chiefs, Charles ran for 7.260 yards and had five seasons with over 1,000 yards. He ranks eighth in total yards for current players and would rank higher if not for injuries. That is one area that the Denver Broncos will want to make sure it under control before signing him.
Jamaal Charles injury status
However, while Jamaal Charles was one of the best running backs in the NFL for years, he tore his ACL in 2015 and he was never the same. The injury happened three games into the season and he was out the rest of the year. That also wasn't his first injury with the Kansas City Chiefs, as his body had started breaking down from years of abuse. He also tore his ACL in 2011 and then he barely touched the ball in 2016 before ending up on injured reserve.
It is a large reason the Chiefs finally let him go. Now, the most important step for Charles in joining the Denver Broncos is to pass a physical and prove that he can still run at an NFL-level at the age of 30.
Competition with the Denver Broncos
The only way that Jamaal Charles will make a difference in 2017 is if he makes the Denver Broncos team and proves he deserves the carries over the two guys already there.
First of all, there is C.J. Anderson. In 2014, Anderson stepped up and looked like he could be a huge star in the NFL but he has yet to play a full season and has never run for 1,000 yards in a year. There is also the fact that Anderson only played in seven games in 2016 and just came off knee surgery himself. The second player is Devontae Booker, a second-year star out of Utah.
Booker had to help carry the load in 2016 after Anderson's injury but only averaged 3.5 yards-per-carry and finished the year with 612 yards and only four touchdowns. While the Broncos hope Booker can become a legitimate starter, Jamaal Charles has every chance to come in and prove he belongs in the starting lineup this year.
