Chiefs running back Charcandrick West excited for an encore

At Jamaal Charles’ insistence, Chiefs running back Charcandrick West has jotted down his goals before the last two games, his first career NFL starts.

Both times West scribbled 100 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 33 yards in nine carries two weeks ago at Minnesota, but West reached his goals with 110 yards in 22 carries, including a 1-yard third-quarter plunge for his first career score, Sunday against Pittsburgh.

So, what’s on tap for the Chiefs’ game this Sunday against Detroit in London?

“Two-hundred yards and three touchdowns,” West joked Wednesday.

As a practice-squad player last season, West could only dream of starring an NFL game. The reality was even more special.

“You always envision it, but you never know when it’s going to happen,” West said. “It’s a surreal feeling still.”

West hopes to make some fans in jolly ol’ England with another strong performance, even if he’s not excited about a transatlantic flight.

More important, he wants to help the Chiefs taste victory for a second straight week.

“When you get that win, it’s always a great feeling … ,” West said. “It’s amazing. To go out there and get a win with my teammates is always amazing. To have a game like I did, it’s a blessing.”

Hali remains hopeful

Not surprisingly, outside linebacker Tamba Hali isn’t among those ready to write off the Chiefs.

“We can’t count ourselves out,” Hali said. “I’ve been around long enough to see a lot of things happen. Our guys just have to believe.”

Obviously, 2-5 isn’t where the Chiefs want to be, but Hali is ready to help the team dig out of that hole.

“It’s never how you draw it up,” he said, “but it’s going to take a bunch of guys that believe in one another and go out there to play and try to accomplish it one at a time.”

Hali is taking personal ownership in getting better.

“I feel like I can play much better … ,” he said. “I don’t have a standard, but I just know what I did last week or what I did the week before, I know I can do better the following week.”

Pressed for specific ways to improve, Hali said, “I can run faster. … I feel like I can chase more plays down. I feel like I can rush better. … I can’t say I’m not playing at a level that I like playing, but I think I can get better.”

Injury report

The Chiefs seemed to finally find the right offensive line combination last week against Pittsburgh, but an injury threatens to disrupt that newfound lineup.

Left guard Ben Grubbs, who was acquired during the offseason in a trade with the Saints, missed practice Wednesday because of a stiff neck.

Grubbs was one of four players to miss practice as the Chiefs prepare for a showdown with the Lions at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London.

Hali (knee swelling), defensive end Mike DeVito (concussion) and inside linebacker Ramik Wilson (ankle sprain) also sat out Wednesday’s practice.

DeVito and Wilson were injured Oct. 18 in Minnesota, and both missed last week’s win against the Steelers.

“Ramik Wilson, with the high ankle sprain, that’s kind of the area we’re concentrating,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He had the knee and the ankle. The knee’s doing pretty good. The high ankle, we’re still working on.”

Hali has been dealing with a swollen knee off and on for several weeks, but he’s been playing through the injury.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who missed the Steelers game because of a concussion, returned to practice on Wednesday.

Tight end Travis Kelce (groin), linebacker Josh Mauga (groin/Achilles’), defensive tackle Dontari Poe (ankle), quarterback Alex Smith (right thumb) and West (pectoral) were full practice participants.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Chiefs running back Charcandrick West excited for an encore."