KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have been watching Spencer Ware on their practice field since they began offseason work in the spring, so they had some idea of what they would be getting when they installed him as their starting running back last week.

But they didn’t know everything they needed to know about Ware, who was forced into the starting lineup for the game against the Buffalo Bills because of injuries to Jamaal Charles and then Charcandrick West.

The Chiefs gave Ware a large amount of work, the likes of which he hadn’t experienced in his brief NFL career and had only handled a few times during his three collegiate seasons at LSU. Ware was in for 53 of the Chiefs’ 62 offensive snaps and got the ball 22 times, 19 on rushing attempts and three on pass receptions.

The Chiefs liked what they found. Ware rushed for a career-high 114 yards, which includes his time at LSU. His best day there came against Florida in 2011, when he ran for 109 yards.

Ware had more than 19 carries in just five of the 35 games he played at LSU.

Spencer Ware rushed for a career-high 114 yards in the Chiefs' win over the Bills on Sunday. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

"Maybe the endurance part of it," coach Andy Reid said regarding what the Chiefs learned about Ware. "He hadn’t played a lot of snaps and then he comes in and puts together a pretty healthy game, as far as number of carries and plays for you. If there was a surprise, maybe that was it."

The Chiefs weren’t surprised by Ware’s violent running style. He dished out punishment to defenders at LSU and during training camp and again during the second half of the previous week’s game against San Diego when he replaced the injured West.

Ware averaged 6.5 yards after contact against the Chargers and 3.1 yards after he was first hit against the Bills. Those are the two highest totals by a Chiefs running back this season.

"We felt from his college time that he was a hard runner," Reid said. "We saw that in the preseason and during camp.

"You got the feeling that’s the way he would be. He was the same way in college. He was a physical runner. He’s going to bring it to you every snap. He’s going to give you that kind of an effort."