Report: Jamaal Charles only 50/50 to make Broncos roster

Jamaal Charles miraculous comeback may not even have a chance with reports of him not being a lock to make the Broncos roster.

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk reports that Jamaal Charles has a 50/50 shot at making the Denver Broncos final roster. Although the Broncos are expected to employ a running back by committee this season, his chances may be slim. With Charles’ history of knee injuries, he may be more of a liability than anything else. Over the last two seasons, Charles has missed a total of 24 games.

Luckily, the Broncos didn’t invest much into him as his base salary is only $900,000. Earlier in the offseason, Charles signed a one-year deal worth up to $3.75 million. However, should the Broncos cut him, they would not take much of a cap hit.

With returning running backs CJ Anderson and Devontae Booker and rookie De’Angelo Henderson in the fold, Charles may be the odd man out. While great in his prime with the Kansas City Chiefs, Charles simply isn’t the runner he used to be.

He has hit the dreaded age of 30, where most running backs’ careers hit a brick wall. In his career, Charles averaged an astounding 5.5  yards per carry. If he could bring that kind of production to the Broncos it would be one thing, but it is hard to imagine him ever playing at that level again.

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If he doesn’t make the cut for the Broncos, Charles could still land himself a job somewhere else in the league. He is reportedly confident in his knees and feels healthy, but how many teams can realistically take a chance on him? If Charles is healthy and makes the team, he is a candidate to win the comeback player of the year award. But he has to actually make the team first.