By Brian Murphy
St. Paul Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL - The Kansas City Chiefs lost more than their fourth game Sunday at home against the Chicago Bears.
Jamaal Charles, one of the NFL’s most prolific running backs, tore his right ACL and was lost for the season, a huge blow to the league’s 18th-ranked offense.
“Obviously Jamaal Charles is a great talent and somebody you have to game plan for,” Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said Monday. “It’s unfortunate.”
Charles was sidelined with another ACL tear in 2011 when Minnesota lost at Arrowhead Stadium. The struggling Chiefs (1-4) visit TCF Bank Stadium Sunday with a gigantic hole in their backfield against the Vikings (2-2), who will be rested coming off their bye.
Since returning from reconstructive knee surgery in 2012, Charles has scored more touchdowns (38) than any player. His 63 career scores are third most in Chiefs history behind Priest Holmes (83) and Tony Gonzalez (76).
Charles accounted for 30.9 percent of Kansas City’s yards from scrimmage before he was injured, according to ESPN.com.
The Chiefs led the Bears 17-3 in the third quarter and were lined up first-and-goal from the Chicago 9-yard line when Charles was injured. They only managed two more first downs and lost 18-17.
Charcandrick West and Knile Davis are the other running backs on Kansas City’s roster. The Chiefs reportedly worked out former Vikings reserve Ben Tate on Monday.
“The West kid runs a lot like Jamaal,” said Greenway.
Quarterback Alex Smith is mobile but has been inconsistent. However, third-year tight end Travis Kelce has 24 receptions, averaging 13.7 yards a catch, with two touchdowns.
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