He’s wearing a new number, but Chiefs will look for familiar production from Ware
His locker space is across the room from where it used to be. A No. 39 jersey hangs there, not the No. 32 he wore here previously, and there a few new faces in the running backs’ meeting room.
Still, familiarity is a big reason why Spencer Ware is back with the Chiefs, signed Tuesday after the team placed Darrel Williams on injured reserve, ending his season. Also out with an injury is Damien Williams.
The Chiefs entered their week of preparation to face the New England Patriots Sunday with LeSean McCoy and rookie Darwin Thompson as their only rostered running backs. Ware, out of football since being released by the Indianapolis Colts in September, got the call.
“I was just waiting on the opportunity to come in and help a team,” Ware said.
First, Ware had to get healthy. He had undergone ankle surgery in August. He rehabbed, worked out and stayed in shape afterward.
“With the surgery, I got taken care of what I needed to take care of to have my career go longer,” Ware said. “That was the main priority. The body first. I’m glad to be back here, doing what I love to do.”
After starting his pro career in Seattle in 2013, Ware appeared in 38 games and started 18 for the Chiefs from 2015-18. He saw plenty of action during his first season in Kansas City, sharing the position with Charcandrick West when starter Jamaal Charles suffered a torn ACL in a Week 5 loss to the Bears.
In 2016, Ware became the Chiefs’ primary back and led them with 921 rushing yards. He was on his way to a starting spot in 2017 when a torn ACL ended his year in the third preseason game. Rookie Kareem Hunt became the starter and led the NFL in rushing.
Ware returned in 2018, but by then, the position was evolving. The Chiefs had signed Damien Williams and Darrel Williams. Hunt was dismissed from the team. Ware started twice late in the season, but Damien Williams got the bulk of the duties and was the starter in the postseason.
Now, the Chiefs (8-4) once again return to Ware. He said he has followed the Chiefs this season. He wasn’t in the position-group room but said the playbook looked familiar.
“I’m a fast learner anyway,” Ware said. “But it does help, more for the guys I’m playing with and the coaches. Being able to trust me in certain situations.”
Ware could be thrust into those situations against the Patriots. Andy Reid said earlier in the week that a decision on Ware’s status would be made at week’s end.
But on Thursday, running backs coach Deland McCullough made it clear that Ware needs to be ready to go.
“He’ll get up to speed quick,” McCullough said, “because he needs to and he has that familiarity.”
Ware did a bit of everything in his first stint with the Chiefs. He was a between-the-tackles runner, but he was also good in pass protection and as a receiver. He had 59 receptions in his first three Chiefs seasons and came up with a huge 21-yard catch in the final minute of the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots that helped move the Chiefs into field-goal range.
“I hope to,” Ware said when asked if he expects to play Sunday. “That’s what I’m here for.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 2:46 PM.