KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs treated Jamaal Charles like a fragile, valuable piece of jewelry in training camp, rarely letting the running back get hit in an attempt to keep him safe.
Through the first four games of the regular season, not much has changed.
Despite averaging more than 5 yards per carry, among the best in the league, Charles has only been given the ball 11 times each of the past two weeks.
And while he's also caught a handful of passes out of the backfield, Chiefs coach Andy Reid's reluctance to put the game on his shoulders comes despite his team losing three straight and falling into the AFC West cellar.