The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to play without their best offensive player on the field for the remainder of the season. The Chiefs are in desperate need of some momentum their way as the team has just one win on the season and now that they have lost Jamaal Charles for the season, things are going to get much harder. Could the team be willing to pull the trigger on a deal for Ray Rice?
According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, the Chiefs have lost Charles for the season to an ACL tear. The running back had an MRI on Monday that confirmed the injury and he will miss the remainder of the season. As of right now, the players on the roster that could fill the void of Charles are Knile Davis and Charcandrick West. Davis has just 27 yards on the season while West has 48. That is causing the Chiefs to look elsewhere for help.
The first name on most people's minds is Rice. The running back remains on the free agent market with little to know interest around him despite him being the best available in terms of talent. However, he should not expect the Chiefs to be the team that calls him. According to Darin Gantt of Pro FootballTalk.com, Rice is not expected to gain interest from Kansas Chity. Head coach Andy Reid is known to give second chances. He proved that with Michael Vick, but Rice is not likely to earn the same benefit of the doubt.
Instead, the Chiefs are looking at other free agent options. According to ESPN, the team has plans to bring in Pierre Thomas for a workout. The running back has gained some interest on the free agent market following injuries but has yet to sign anywhere. Ben Tate is also expected to work out for the Chiefs. He was a quality backup to Arian Foster, but was replaced on the Cleveland Browns by two rookies last year. Are Thomas and Tate the best available? Trent Richardson, Steven Jackson and Felix Jones are also available.
Reid stressed the in-house talent the Chiefs have. Fans can expect West to be the starter for the time being while Davis works as the backup. Kansas City will add someone to the roster, but Rice is not expected to be the name that gets called.