NFL OK with KC handling of Charles concussion

Jamaal Charles didn't suffer a concussion on this Brandon Flowers hit, but K.C. took all precautions. (Getty)

Kansas City Chiefs star running back, Jamaal Charles, absorbed several big hits in last week's win over San Diego, including a devastating blow when scoring a touchdown, but did not suffer a concussion in the game.

During an interview later in the week, Charles spoke of “seeing spots” after the hit, which brought attention as to whether or not he suffered a head injury, though Charles also said several times in the segment that he did not suffer a concussion.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Charles was evaluated on the sidelines during the game and passed all protocols from an independent neurologist and the Chiefs took additional measures as well after he made his remarks on the radio. On Tuesday he underwent a full battery of tests, with the results sent to Pittsburgh, where there's a facility that handles such cases, to compare with his baseline tests and the team also reached out to the NFL to see if there was anything additional that could be done.

Despite Charles having not been diagnosed with a concussion the team effectively treated him this week as if he had, and by Wednesday it had received the results back from Pittsburgh which further concluded he had not suffered a concussion. The NFL has found no reason to further pursue the matter, sources said, and had no issues with their explanation of the situation.

Charles, who was pulled out of a playoff game last season with a concussion, is slated to start Sundayagainst St. Louis.

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Colts RB Trent Richardson (hamstring) likely a game-time decision



Colts running back Trent Richardson (hamstring) has not practiced all week and is a likely game-time decision for the team's Week 8 game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Richardson is unable to play, RB Ahmad Bradshaw would see the bulk of the work at running back, with Dan Herron serving as his backup.Richardson had arguably his best game of the season in Week 7 against Cincinnati. Despite not scoring a touchdown, Richardson still put up 77 yards rushing on 14 carries and added 41 receiving yards on four catches. His 5.5 yards per carry was the greatest single-game average of his year.



Richardson is not a running back who is going to go off and put up a 35-point fantasy day. What he has proven himself to be, though, is a weekly flex option, putting up 10 or more points in PPR leagues four out of the past five weeks. He gets ripped a lot because he isn't the fleetest of foot when running with the ball. Backfield mate Bradshaw has been the much more effective of the two. However, playing on a highly efficient Colts offense engineered by QB Andrew Luck, Richardson still has value. If he doesn't play this week, Bradshaw is an excellent play and should put up RB1 numbers.