KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Preparation for the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week seemingly includes as much rest and recovery as actual on the field work, with seven starters including five on the defensive side of the ball on the sidelines for practice Wednesday.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe prepares to line up during the Chiefs 27-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. Sunday, October 23, 2016 in Kansas City, Mo. (Nick Tre. Smith/Special to The Topeka Capital-Journal)
New additions to the injury list include cornerback Marcus Peters and defensive tackle Dontari Poe. Peters briefly left Sunday’s game against Carolina with a hip pointer, while Poe tweaked his knee during the game, according to coach Andy Reid.
“He’s got a little bit of swelling on there, but he’s really doing pretty good,” Reid said. “We’ll just back off him today and he won’t practice.”
Peters returned after sustaining his hip injury, and Reid hopes rest alleviates the concern.
“He’s doing good, making progress,” Reid said.
Linebacker Derrick Johnson joined teammates on the practice field but did not work out, according to Reid. The coach described Johnson’s ongoing hamstring injury as a spasm he’s been fighting.
Defensive end Jaye Howard (hip flexor strain) and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (groin strain) also sat out Wednesday’s practice along with linebacker Tamba Hali. The veteran Hali typically skips practice on Wednesday and Friday.
Both Howard and Maclin sat out Sunday’s game against Carolina. Reid put no timetable on Maclin’s return.
“He’s not there yet, but every day he’s getting a little better,” Reid said. “Again that’s kind of day by day, we’ll just see how he does. But he’s not ready to go today.”
Reid also took a wait-and-see attitude toward the return of linebacker Justin Houston. He did not rule out the possibility the All-Pro pass rusher makes his 2016 debut against the Buccaneers. Houston practiced fully for the first time this season on Wednesday.
“We’re heading in that direction, but let’s see how it works today,” Reid said. “As long as it’s progress forward, we’ll take it day by day and see how he does. He’s upbeat about it.”
Cornerback Phillip Gaines (neck) participated on limited basis. Linebacker D.J. Alexander (neck) practiced fully along with cornerback D.J. White (hand). That marks White’s first full practice since sustaining a broken hand during week seven against New Orleans.
Long snapper James Winchester did not practice following the death of his father.
TAMBA BAY BUCCANEERS
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: RB Jacquizz Rodgers (foot), C Even Smith (knee) and TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
Limited participation: C Joe Hawley (knee)
Full participation: G Kevin Pamphile (concussion) and WR Russell Shepard (hip)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LB Tamba Hali (knee), DE Jaye Howard (hip), WR Jeremy Maclin (groin), LB Derrick Johnson (groin), CB Marcus Peters (hip), DT Dontari Poe (knee) and LS James Winchester (not injury related)
Limited participation: CB Phillip Gaines (neck)
Full participation: LB Justin Houston (knee), CB D.J. White (hand) and D.J. Alexander (neck)
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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