KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- I’ve heard the suggestions -- not from anyone inside Kansas City Chiefs headquarters, it should be noted -- that we are seeing the beginning of the career decline for running back Jamaal Charles.

The theory goes that the repeated injuries he’s fought through this season are an indication his body is breaking down after a few seasons with a heavy workload. A decline in skills is sure to follow.

Charles has gone through more than his share of injuries this season, enough to make you wonder whether we are seeing the beginning of the end. From foot problems in August and September, to current knee and ankle issues, to the strange situation in October when he described having several concussion symptoms without having a concussion, it’s been a weird season for him.

But Charles hasn’t reached the point where his skills are declining. You can’t possibly have watched Charles run in recent games and come to that conclusion.

By the numbers, Charles is more effective when he’s getting the ball this season than he was in a relatively healthy 2013 season. Charles averages 5.2 yards per carry, compared to 5.0 last season. He scores a rushing touchdown every 20.4 carries, as opposed to every 21.6 carries last season. He is nowhere near as dynamic a receiver as he was last season, but that speaks to larger problems with the passing game more than it does Charles’ shortcomings.

The situation bears watching. When a back loses his skills, it doesn’t happen over a period of years, but almost overnight.

Charles turns 28 next week. That is young by many standards, but not for a running back who has touched the ball more than 1,500 times during a seven-year NFL career.

So it’s going to happen and sneak up on us when it does. But it hasn’t happened yet.