When asked about the Kansas City Chiefs’ running back usage without Jamaal Charles (knee, doubtful), head coach Andy Reid was evasive Friday.
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“We’ll see how he (Charles) does after a couple days off”. After winning their opener in Houston a year ago, they proceeded to lose five straight games, a run of misfortune that included the loss of Charles to a season-ending knee injury.
The Chiefs kept four running backs on the 53-man active roster with Charles still ailing.
The San Diego Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Arrowhead Stadium. After the Broncos game in Denver however, the Chiefs could win the rest of their games against the Falcons in Atlanta, three straight home games vs. the Raiders, Titans, and Broncos at home, before rounding out their season with a game in San Diego.
The team of Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Co. that lost to the Patriots in the playoffs last season has not dropped a regular-season game since October 18, 2015. The run defense is improved but the Chiefs are still able to run at will. Rivers has himself a game and Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates find themselves in the end zone.
San Diego last traveled to Kansas City in their Week 14 matchup of the 2015 season. After sitting during the anthem in the Seahawks’ final preseason game last Thursday, Lane said 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick reached out to him to thank him for his support and his matching gesture.
Instead, it was more common for Reid to split carries among two or three options. Rivers threw for 403 yards against Detroit in Chargers opener last season.
The Chargers allowed 125.3 yards per game on the ground last season, making them a less than impressive 27th ranked unit. On offense, Alex Smith has been a good game manager. Instead, several players stepped up and played well and either gave hope for the coming season or made the team based on their play on the field.
Every year there are some games in week 1 that the lines are just too big.
“I’m confident in the guys, but it’s a matter of them doing it”, Reid said.
Bosa started practice this week with his leg wrapped, observing from the sideline, and is not expected to play.
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Meanwhile, Berry missed most of training camp after negotiations on a long-term contract broke down and he hesitated to sign his franchise tender.
