Jamaal Charles, the running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, is scheduled to meet with a specialist later this week to sort out his recurring issue with his knee. Depending on the results of his checkup, Charles could be looking at an early end to the season or even his career in the NFL.

Charles first joined the NFL after he was selected during the third round of the 2008 draft by the Chiefs. His first couple of years with the team were highly celebrated but things started to get problematic in 2011 after he suffered an ACL injury which ended the season for him.

This issue returned in 2015 when he tore his ACL in his right knee and was placed on injured reserve for the rest of the year. Although he was able to come back this season, the recurring condition in his knee has prevented him from playing in a total of four games already, including the Week 8 match against the Indianapolis Colts.

Earlier this week, Andy Reid, the head coach for the Kansas City squad, confirmed that Charles will have his knee check by Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon known for working with various NFL teams.

Depending on Andrews' analysis on Charles, the athlete could miss out on the Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, if things don't work out for Charles and the Chiefs, the running back could once again end up on injured reserve, which could mean an early end to his 2016 season.

But, aside from this scenario, Charles' physical condition could also force him to retire early from the league. For NFL players, especially among running backs, knee injuries tend to be sensitive issues. These could potentially end their careers since this type of injury can prevent them from performing their jobs properly.

In the case of Charles, it is not yet clear what will happen to him following his visit to Andrews' clinic. He could either be recommended for surgery, which could force him to miss a couple of games this year, or eventually be told to retire due to the nature of his condition.