Jackie Battle is coming off of a career season after an early season injury to Jamaal Charles left the running back depth chart jumbled. But the Kansas City Chiefs did not sign Battle before free agency hit on Tuesday afternoon.
According to ESPN, at least three teams are interested in Battle. No word on who they are. Battle named the Houston Texans as an offense he likes in an interview on Sirius XM NFL Radio last month. He also said the Chiefs told him they wanted him back.
"[The Chiefs] said they wanted me back before we left but I was gonna just see what my options were before I made that decision," Battle told Andrew Bogusch and Pat Kirwan on SiriusXM NFL Radio in February. "But they said they wanted me back before the season ended."
The Chiefs have focused some of their attention in free agency on running backs. Specifically, they're bringing in Peyton Hillis and Mike Tolbert for visits. It's also been speculated they could be interested in BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
In that interview on Sirius, Battle sounded like he wanted to be a No. 2 running back. In Kansas City, he would likely be the third option behind Charles and probably whoever the Chiefs sign in free agency or select in the NFL draft.
(H/T stagdsp)
More Chiefs free agency news (and a list of all the Chiefs free agents here):
Kevin Boss visiting the Chiefs | John Carlson made it to KC, but didn't visit Chiefs | Jackie Battle has some interest in free agency | Brandon Carr to Dallas for $50.1 million | Kyle Orton signs with Cowboys | John Carlson signs with Vikings | All the Chiefs free agents, take two | Chiefs seeking big running back |Day one recap|Finnegan's numbers are in, waiting on Carr| Mike Tolbert has five teams interested | BenJarvus Green-Ellis has multiple suitors | Eric Winston visiting Chiefs| Peyton Hilils, Mike Tolbert visiting Chiefs | John Carlson visiting Chiefs | No tender for Tyler Palko | Kyle Orton visiting Cowboys | Brandon Carr visiting Cowboys