KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Charcandrick West will get some work as the Kansas City Chiefs’ featured back in Sunday’s game against the Vikings in Minnesota. So will Knile Davis and, perhaps, Spencer Ware.
Beyond that, nobody is quite certain how things will go for the Chiefs in their first game without the injured Jamaal Charles, who is done for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee.
That includes the Chiefs themselves.
“You can’t say 'You’re going to get 10 carries and you’re going to get nine carries,' " offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. “Games just don’t unfold that way."
The Chiefs will respond to game circumstances, how the Vikings are defending them, and what’s working and what isn’t in determining how to dole out playing time to their running backs.
A definitive playing order may take some time to evolve, if it ever does, and what it is on Sunday may be different the following weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers and beyond.
“We’ve got a little bit of a committee thing going," coach Andy Reid said. “I can’t sit here and tell you which one’s going to start or not start. There’s a chance they all play.
“We have certain things for certain guys early in this game plan here. ... We’ll just see how it rolls. That’s kind of how you go. They all have their certain things they’re going to be asked to do and we expect them to get in there and do a good job.”
The Chiefs have a lot to choose from. West is most like Charles. He’s about Charles’ size, and between his ability as a runner and receiver, he’s the most well-rounded of the healthy and available backs the Chiefs have.
Davis is bigger and more powerful, something Reid and Pederson both mentioned this week. That could be a hint that Davis will be the runner when the Chiefs get into goal-line and short-yardage situations.
“I definitely think we’re different, but I have confidence that (West) can get the job done," Davis said. “I feel like I can definitely get the job done so I think we’re in good hands.”
Then there’s Ware, who was promoted from the practice squad to take the roster spot vacated by Charles when he was placed on injured reserve. He’s as big as Davis but more versatile in the mold of West.
So the Chiefs have some options.
“I think they all need to work together and when given an opportunity, do their thing," Reid said. “Right now it’s about being a productive offense and then you narrow it down to being productive at that position. I think we have guys that are very capable of doing that.”