The injury looked bad enough that players on both sides were shaking their heads. Now it’s official. The Kansas City Chiefs have lost arguably their single best player for the year as Jamaal Charles has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. After already losing Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki, this season has been nothing short of disastrous for the Chiefs and it’s only two games into the 2011 season.
Charles last year was arguably the best running back in the NFL, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He was supposed to be even more of a centerpiece this year than last and the Chiefs bolstered their offense with Le’Ron McClain to focus more on the run. Now McClain will undoubtedly be called upon to run the ball some more and hold down the fort with Thomas Jones serving as the primary ball carrier.
The Chiefs do not have the offensive depth to be able to handle the loss of Charles at this point with Moeaki also out for the season as well as the inactivity of Jonathan Baldwin to date — the team’s first round draft choice. Steve Breaston and Dwayne Bowe now become the offensive playmakers and the Chiefs must change their tune to a more balanced attack to move the chains through the air. Fans of the Chiefs now place their hope in Matt Cassel to become the star of the show and bring some hope back before the season gets out of hand — if it’s not already.