The Denver Broncos hope Jamaal Charles gives the team something different to work with out of the backfield. On Saturday night, he gave the team more of the same in terms of their recent running back history, suffering an injury that took him off the field. It turned out to be more of a scare than anything, as he was only forced to be on the sidelines for a few minutes. Still, it was not the sight fans wanted to see in the team's third preseason game.
Charles goes to the sideline
The injury occurred just over halfway into the second quarter in the Broncos' game against the Green Bay Packers.
As the running back took the ball, he made a cut that looked extremely awkward. Immediately, fans flashed back to the last time he was on a football field when he suffered a knee injury halfway through his 2016 season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Knee injuries have crushed the twilight of Charles' career - one in this moment would have ended his chance at making the team.
Alas, the injury was not as serious as it looked initially. In fact, it wasn't even a knee injury. A Broncos executive tweeted out that Charles was evaluated for a concussion while in the medical tent he disappeared to for a minute. Better yet, he was quickly cleared after getting some quick tests. Sure enough, he was back on the field in very little time.
Perhaps that's news best for him more than anyone else since he's battling for his job on Saturday.
Injury update for the Broncos: RB Jamaal Charles was evaluated for a possible concussion and has been cleared to return.
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) August 27, 2017
Charles fights for his job
It became clear before Saturday's game that this would be Charles' only appearance during the preseason.
That means it's his only chance to prove himself as a necessary member of the team's backfield rotation. When on the field on Saturday, he was doing just that. He bobbed and weaved around defenders for a slight gain on his first carry. He showed a great ability to find holes and keep his feet moving while staying on them. He clearly has a special dimension none of the other Broncos running backs have.
Up to this season, he has spent his entire career with the divisional rival Chiefs. He made four Pro Bowls and became one of the best backs in the history of that franchise. In Denver, he enters a running back's "no man land" over the past few seasons, filled with injuries and lackluster play. With a young quarterback in Trevor Siemian, the team could use a solid ground game. Charles could stabilize that rotation, making him a necessary component of the team's plans.
