Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith split most of the practice time Wednesday as the Chiefs&rsquo; running backs, both of them trying to prove they&rsquo;re ready for a more significant role.</p><p>Charles caught passes during practice, and Smith tested his surgically repaired knee at the team&rsquo;s indoor facility. Both appeared capable of handling a greater load.</p><p>&ldquo;If they need me,&rdquo; Smith said Wednesday, &ldquo;I can be used.&rdquo;</p><p>They do. Starting running back Larry Johnson was issued a two-week suspension by the Chiefs on Wednesday night for conduct detrimental to the team. He will not be permitted at team headquarters or allowed to participate in team activities before Nov. 9, the day after the Chiefs play at Jacksonville.</p><p>Johnson&rsquo;s agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Star on Wednesday that an appeal would be filed today. He said he would ask for an expedited hearing and he hoped for an expedited response.</p><p>&ldquo;We respectfully disagree,&rdquo; Schaffer said. &ldquo;This punishment doesn&rsquo;t fit the action.&rdquo;</p><p>Johnson had already been barred from the team Tuesday for remarks he made earlier in the week, although that was not a suspension. Until the team escalated Johnson&rsquo;s punishment, he was listed on the Chiefs&rsquo; 53-man roster and would have received his weekly checks. While suspended, Johnson won&rsquo;t be paid, saving the Chiefs about $660,000 in total compensation the next two weeks.</p><p>The Chiefs issued a statement Wednesday night announcing Johnson&rsquo;s suspension, and a spokesman said the team wouldn&rsquo;t comment further. Coach Todd Haley wouldn&rsquo;t take questions about Johnson&rsquo;s status Wednesday afternoon. </p><p>Johnson posted disparaging remarks Sunday night on his Twitter page, starting with a remark about Haley&rsquo;s lack of football playing experience. He later posted a gay slur in response to one of his Twitter followers, and Johnson directed another gay slur Monday morning in the Chiefs&rsquo; locker room. </p><p>Johnson was benched three games in 2008 after he was arrested on assault charges for alleged late-night incidents involving women, and the NFL issued a one-game suspension. Johnson told reporters repeatedly after last season that he wanted out of Kansas City, before he reversed course upon the hiring of Haley and Pioli. The Chiefs&rsquo; new leaders agreed to forget Johnson&rsquo;s past if he could change his ways in the future.</p><p>Johnson, a two-time former Pro Bowler, was optimistic and cheerful most times, before the team&rsquo;s losing and Johnson&rsquo;s ineffectiveness set in. Johnson averaged 2.7 yards per carry in seven games this season, and he appeared frustrated after two of the Chiefs&rsquo; six losses. After Sunday&rsquo;s 37-7 loss to San Diego at Arrowhead Stadium, Johnson turned to Twitter to vent.</p><p>Three days later, Johnson&rsquo;s most recent suspension is set, but his future is far from certain. The league could hit Johnson with additional punishment after his team suspension expires. Johnson&rsquo;s contract runs through 2012, and further punishment could affect additional money that, under his current deal, Johnson is due to receive. </p><p>Among the scenarios:</p><p>&bull;The Chiefs could deactivate Johnson for some or all of its remaining eight games after his team suspension expires. That would save the Chiefs some money; Johnson receives a bonus for each game he appears on the team&rsquo;s 45-man roster. Johnson still would be entitled to his yearly salary &mdash; about $330,000 per week &mdash; which is guaranteed as long as he&rsquo;s on the 53-man roster.