Jaguars Sign Former Pro Bowl RB Jamaal Charles As Injuries Pile Up
Olivia Owen The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing running back Jamaal Charles as the injuries in the backfield continue to pile up, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Lead running back Leonard Fournette has been limited to two games this season, as he continues to be hampered by a hamstring injury. Jacksonville also lost second-string RB Corey Grant for the season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
A four-time Pro Bowler, the 31-year-old Charles provides depth and stability in the Jacksonville backfield. He's been slowed by injuries in recent years, but Charles should be fresh after going unsigned throughout the entire 2018 offseason. He's also playing behind one of the NFL's elite offensive lines, so Charles has the opportunity to endure a resurgent season in 2018.
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Charles signed with the Denver Broncos last season and had 296 yards on 69 carries, adding one rushing touchdown. He was limited to a total of eight games through the 2015 and '16 seasons, however, due to a torn ACL and other knee-related injuries. But finally, Charles is healthy and has the chance to play a major role throughout the rest of 2018.
Charles has averaged a whopping 5.4 yards per carry throughout his career, which is an NFL record. He's totaled rushing 7,556 yards and 44 touchdowns. Charles also has 308 receptions for 2,586 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.
Jacksonville desperately needs a boost on offense, as quarterback Blake Bortles has had a couple of miserable outings after a crucial Week 2 victory over the New England Patriots. The ground game was Jacksonville's bread and butter on offense last season, but that hasn't been the case with all these injuries.
A backfield of Fournette, Charles and T.J. Yeldon should scare the rest of the AFC. Should this ground game get going again, the Jaguars offense will be fine, and they'll return to the status of being a Super bowl contender for 2018.
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