Chiefs RB Charles done for the season after tearing ACL

[SCMom]

Chiefs RB Charles done for the season after tearing ACL

• Associated Press
• Published: Sept. 18, 2011 at 05:24 p.m.
• Updated: Sept. 18, 2011 at 05:51 p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles was carted off the field midway through the first quarter Sunday with a left knee injury and didn't return to a 48-3 trouncing in Detroit.

The Chiefs suspect Charles has torn his anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season, according to a team source. The team will learn his final diagnosis after an MRI exam scheduled to be performed Monday morning.

Charles, who rushed for 1,467 yards last season, was lunging toward the first-down mark along the Lions' sideline when he was pushed out of bounds by defensive back Chris Houston. Charles landed at the feet of Detroit's mascot and immediately began clutching his left leg.

Charles' return initially was announced as questionable, but the injury appeared significant, and he was declared out for the rest of the game early in the third quarter.

It appeared Charles might have hurt himself while planting the leg as he went out of bounds -- he seemed unwilling or unable to plant it again as he fell to the ground.

Charles also appeared unable to put any weight on his left leg as he was helped onto the cart.

Charles, 24, has rushed for over 1,100 yards in each of the last two seasons, and his injury was the latest bit of bad news already for Kansas City this season. The Chiefs, who won the AFC West last season, were routed 41-7 by the Buffalo Bills in their opener and trailed the Lions 20-3 at halftime.

In the opener at Buffalo, the Chiefs lost Pro Bowl defensive back Eric Berry to a season-ending injury -- also to the left knee and also in the firstquarter.

Even with Charles sidelined, Kansas City was able to establish a solid running game early against Detroit. The Chiefs rushed for 115 yards on 17 carries in the first half. Dexter McCluster had 36 yards on four carries, and Thomas Jones had 25 yards on seven carries.

Those two might have to handle more of the load if Charles is out for an extended period of time. Jones actually had more carries than Charles last season and rushed for 896 yards.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...headline_stack

[mikegrimey]

This drastically ****s my fantasy team, but I feel bad for the guy too, have always thought he was an excellent player.

[drizze99]

This really hurt my fantasy team as well. I think I will survive it though because it looks like I will have Tate to use and still have Mendy & Hightower.

[Fire Arians]

the chiefs just can't catch a break. 2nd game of the season and they already lost 2 of their best players

[mikegrimey]

I have no such luck, I'm in a 10-man league so available running back's are low. I'm gonna have to use Sproles (who i've had as split wr/RB) or Blount replace him. I'm hesitant on totally committing to blount. It just sucks to have a top 5 pick bite the dust like that.