Through six games with the Denver Broncos, running back Jamaal Charles has rushed for 196 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries. He has provided Denver with a nice change-of-pace running back to compliment C.J. Anderson. On Monday night, he will return to Arrowhead Stadium for the first time to face his former team – the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before Charles signed a one-year contract with Denver worth up to $3.75 million, he arranged visits with two NFC West teams. They were the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, according to The Denver Post. Neither team told Charles what he wanted to hear.
"I guess they looked at my knees on the MRIs and didn't feel like it was a safe move for them," Charles said.
What was their advice to Charles following physicals? Retire.
Jamaal Charles said two teams who examined his knees this offseason told him he should retire. Averaging 4.7 ypc & workload set to increase
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 26, 2017
Charles, 30, spent nine seasons in Kansas City before joining the Broncos. Despite multiple surgeries over his career and teams telling him to call it quits, he had no intention of retiring.
Meanwhile, there have been rumors that the 49ers were trying to trade starting running back Carlos Hyde. The 49ers denied those rumors. There were also rumors that the 49ers are trying to negotiate a contract extension for Hyde.
"Sources said new general manager John Lynch, who did not draft Hyde but thinks highly of his ability, would like to extend his contract and has been making attempts to do as much," reported Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
Hyde, 27, has carried the football 100 times for 428 yards and four touchdowns this season. The 49ers also have undrafted rookie Matt Breida on the roster, who they are very fond of. The team drafted Joe Williams out of Utah but was forced to place him on injured reserve.