Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will not play against the San Diego Chargers in Week 17, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Jamaal Charles inactive vs. Chargers
Kansas City has chosen to be without its key offensive weapon in Week 17.
Jamie Squire
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Head coach Andy Reid discussed resting his starters earlier in the week, with Kansas City facing a guaranteed game in the wild card round. The team was unable to unseat Denver atop the AFC West, and will remain the fifth seed despite potentially finishing with the second best record in the conference.
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Charles has been one of the league's best running backs in 2013, amassing over 1,900 all-purpose yards and a total of 19 touchdowns. There's no question the Chiefs' offense takes a severe hit with him out, and Kansas City will lean on rookie running back Knile Davis to try and fill the void. He played well in a rotational role, but is largely untested -- carrying the ball 43 times this season for 161 yards.
Resting Charles could have huge ramifications for the Chargers’ playoff chances. San Diego needs a win in Week 17 along with early losses to set up a chance for the team to earn the final wild card in the AFC.
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