Tamba Hali is expected to play on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers while the Kansas City Chiefs are unlikely to have Jamaal Charles. Chiefs coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Sunday and said that it would be “a stretch” for Jamaal to play this weekend. He hedged only a little saying, “We’ll see how it goes though.”
That shouldn’t be too surprising at this point because the Chiefs have been pumping the brakes on Jamaal since training camp started. They initially said he would be ready for camp and then he wasn’t. I’m not totally sure if there was any sort of setback (the Chiefs say there wasn’t).
The Chiefs will roll with Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and Knile Davis at running back. Jamaal’s availability (or lack thereof) could have played a role into Knile making the 53-man roster. For you fantasy folks, Ware is the one you want to pick up.
Reid said that Jamaal is behind Tamba Hali, who is expected to play a limited role.
“I don’t think Tamba will play the full load just based on sheer age and wear and tear on the body,” Reid saidi. “So he’ll be in a rotation. If you keep him in there, he’ll go 8,000 mph. He does it in practice and he’ll do it in games -- which you love.”
The Chiefs are already without Justin Houston so if / when Tamba leaves the game they will be working with their third and fourth best pass rushers. Dee Ford will be among those and the Chiefs will need another big game from him as he did in a three-sack game against San Diego last year.