Jamaal Charles Isn’t Sure What Future Holds For Him, But Expects To Be Playing Football Next Year

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles admitted that he’s unsure what the future holds for him but he plans to be playing football again in 2017.

“I honestly don’t know what the future holds for me,” Charles said, via JamaalCharles25.com. “…What I do know is that I still want to play football. I was only 29 years old this season. My goal right now is to just focus on the now and my rehab and let the rest sort itself out later.”

Charles explained that his decision to undergo surgery on both of his knees back in November came after the team decided to place him on injured reserve.

“The team put me on injured reserve, and we talked about it, and decided to have him clean out the other knee as well,” Charles writes. “That one wasn’t as bad, but there was some stuff in there. It made sense to do it so I could just heal up and go out there feeling the same way in both knees, just completely ready.”

It seemed like the Chiefs would bring Charles back for the playoffs but they ultimately elected to use the designation to return on LB Justin March-Lillard.

You can bet we’ll be hearing more about Charles’ future with the Chiefs during the offseason, considering that he’ll be coming off of another injury-plagued season and the Chiefs have been able to replace his production with cheaper options.

Charles, 30, is in the third year of his four-year, $28 million contract that included $8.3 million guaranteed. He stands to make base salaries of $2.75 million (2016), and $3.75 million (2017) over the remainder of the contract.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Charles next year would free up $7 million in available cap space while creating no in dead money.

In 2016, Charles appeared in three games and rushed for 40 yards on 12 carries (3.3 YPC) to go along with two receptions for 14 yards receiving and a touchdown.