The dream has died for Jamaal Charles but it continues for inside linebacker Justin March. According to Terez Paylor, the Chiefs have designated March for return from injured reserve. Since you can only do that with one player on IR, it necessarily means that Jamaal will not be back this year.
The #Chiefs have designated ILB Justin March-Lillard to return from IR. He's still on IR for now but can return.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) December 21, 2016
This fits an obvious need at inside linebacker. Josh Mauga was hurt before the year, Justin March went down early in the season and the Chiefs just lost Derrick Johnson for the year. They needed an inside linebacker and March is someone they like and knows the system so he can step in and play. That makes sense. We will see when he actually returns. He was on IR with a fractured hand.
Unfortunately, the headline here is that Jamaal Charles is not returning. The Chiefs can only designate one player per year to return from IR and it’s not Jamaal. This could mean the end of his playing time in Kansas City but we have no idea what the future holds. Maybe they work something out so he could stay.
This is a bittersweet day.