Chiefs’ Spencer Ware says his ‘Yes Lawd’ clothing line inspired him during knee rehab
Spencer Ware designs his line of Yes Lawd clothing for people who need a little encouragement.
For those who need to be uplifted, to be reminded they’re working for a higher purpose.
People a lot like himself.
As he rehabbed from LCL and PCL tears of his right knee sustained during the 2017 preseason, Ware, an openly spiritual man, wore his YL logo gear.
When the Chiefs running back got discouraged, all he had to do was look down at the giant screen-printed YL on his chest.
“When I get tired or felt like I wanted to give up or was hurting, just take a look down at yourself and you remember your ‘why’ and then you got to thank the Lord,” Ware said.
Eleven months removed from his catastrophic knee injury, Ware is trading his YL workout clothes for Chiefs gear as he gradually works his way back to playing form in training camp.
“I attack everything head first,” Ware said after Tuesday’s practice. “That’s where the faith comes in at. ... Everyone believes in something, no matter what it is. I believe in my creator and he does great things. … Just stay focused on the things that you need to accomplish and just attack it.”
During his rehabilitation, Ware found solace in working with his Marshawn Lynch-backed clothing line, even pushing out a line of women’s wear earlier this summer. Ware promoted his designs and chronicled his rehab progress on Twitter throughout the summer, posting two videos that showed his knee’s strength as he ripped through agility drills in a park.
But personal workouts are a lot different from practicing with teammates and coaches in training camp.
“It’s about being comfortable around bodies,” Ware said. “I’ve got to react more than having it already set up and I know exactly where I’m going, or I need to breakdown or make my cuts or whatnot.”
Ware started 14 games in 2016, rushing for 921 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 447 receiving yards and two touchdown catches that season. He entered the 2017 season as the Chiefs’ top running back, but his season ending injury and Kareem Hunt’s dominant rookie campaign has likely forced Ware into a new role in the upcoming season.
He’ll be vying for time in a crowded backfield that also includes Charcandrick West and newly signed veteran Damien Williams.
Just two practices into camp, Ware said his coaches aren’t discussing a modified role quite yet. Instead, the directives are simple.
“Just get your (butt) back,” Ware said. “That’s pretty much it.”
Before Tuesday’s practice, ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates reported Ware agreed to restructure the final year of his three-year, $4.2 million contract, converting half of his $1.45 million base pay to incentives. The move frees up cap space for the Chiefs and makes Ware one of the cheaper options in his position. Williams, who signed a contract with the Chiefs in March, is on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
“I mean, that was a little personal on our side,” Ware said when asked about the conversations around the contract. “For my organization and my team, I trust them.
“I’m happy with where I’m at in my rehab process, and we’re just going to keep moving forward from where we’re at.”
This story was originally published July 24, 2018 at 10:15 AM.