The Kansas City Chiefs likely won’t see Pro Bowl linebacker Justin Houston at all during the summer after he underwent off-season surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL on his knee.
Houston’s expected recovery time was 6-12 months. Now four months into rehab, he doesn’t appear close to returning to the field.
“When you’re around him, you have this optimism he’s going to be back in a short period of time, but in reality it’s going to take a little bit,” head coach Andy Reid said last week, via ESPN. “That’s OK. We’ve got other guys that will step in, step up for him at that spot until he gets back. The important thing is that he gets back and is healthy and that you don’t rush it and do something foolish with it.”
ESPN reports that Houston will be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list during training camp and is doubtful to play Week 1 against the division rival San Diego Chargers.
There’s also some concern in Kansas City that Houston will be placed on the regular season PUP list, meaning he would miss the first six games of the year.
Houston, 27, has recorded 56 sacks in five NFL seasons and has earned four trips to the Pro Bowl during his career. Needless to say, the linebacker’s importance to the team cannot be overstated.