Running back Bishop Sankey getting crash course in Chiefsology

Entering the season, the Chiefs were loaded with talent and depth at running back. Jamaal Charles, coming off knee surgery, was back. Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West had filled in admirably in Charles’ absence, and Knile Davis was a capable stand-in.

But as the Chiefs prepare to meet the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, only West from that group will play. Charles has been placed on the injured reserve after having his meniscus trimmed earlier this week. Ware is out after suffering a concussion in last week’s victory over the Colts, and Davis was released three weeks ago and has since been released by the Packers and Jets.

Suddenly depth shy, the Chiefs signed Bishop Sankey earlier this week from the Patriots’ practice squad and he’s received a crash course in Chiefs-ology.

“He had a lot thrown at him, it’s like learning French overnight,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He hung in there and did a respectable job.”

Sankey burned the midnight oil.

“I can’t even count the hours,” Sankey said of the time he’s spent with Chiefs running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. “He’s been doing a great job, and I have to keep chugging along until game day.”

Sankey is a third-year pro who was a teammate of Chiefs’ cornerback Marcus Peters at Washington. Sankey was a second round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2014, and the first running back selected in the draft that year. As a rookie, the 5-10, 209-pound back rushed for 569 yards in 152 attempts and two touchdowns.

The first game of his career was at Arrowhead Stadium, when the Titans beat the Chiefs 26-10 to open the 2014 season. Sankey rushed for 25 yards in six carries that day.

His production dropped in 2015 to 193 yards in 47 attempts with one touchdown rushing and one receiving. He was released before this season and signed with the Patriots.

Now, he’s on the spot with the Chiefs as the primary backup to West.

“Each one of them has plays, we’ll see how it rolls,” Reid said. “Charcandick will get most of them obviously and we’ll see how he holds up.”

The Chiefs had a running back on the practice squad, Darrin Reaves, who appeared in six games with the Panthers in 2014. But Reid said Reaves had suffered a groin injury making him unavailable.

“Bad timing because he’s a pretty good player,” Reid said. “We didn’t have an opportunity to bring him up.”

As for Sankey, who will wear No. 30, he’s spent the week getting up the speed, just like quarterback Nick Foles, who will make the start over Alex Smith, who is being held out of Sunday’s game as a precautionary measure after suffering head injuries against the Colts.

“Nick Foles has done a great job communicating the audibles, the line calls and everything,” Sankey said. “We’re both trying to get there and execute the plays the best way we can.”

This story was originally published November 4, 2016 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Running back Bishop Sankey getting crash course in Chiefsology."