KANSAS CITY, Mo. – No one could miss the smile on Justin Houston’s face as he strolled through the Kansas City Chiefs locker room Wednesday ahead of his first practice with the team this season.
Aug. 18, 2015; St. Joseph, MO; Chiefs outside linebackers Tamba Hali (91) and Justin Houston (50) during training camp at Missouri Western State University. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Coach Andy Reid looked pretty pleased to get his All-Pro linebacker back on the field, too.
“I joked with him today, he probably didn’t sleep much last night he’s so excited,” Reid said. “He’s been bouncing around the last couple of weeks here.”
Houston’s surgeon cleared the veteran to resume football-type activities on Oct. 3. The Chiefs placed Houston on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season, which meant he must sit out the first six weeks of the season including practices.
Reid said he expects to work Houston into the flow of practice slowly, beginning with individual drills before progressing to time spent with the scout team.
“We’ll just see how much he can get done,” Reid said.
Returning to practice starts a 21-day clock for Houston where he can practice without counting against the team’s active 53-man roster. The team can elect to add Houston to the roster anytime during this window.
Reid said he would bet against Houston playing against the Saints this weekend.
“I think we just need to see what he can do out here and then keep a rein on it,” Reid said. “I think he’s very excited to get out here. But at the same we got to pump the brakes just a little bit and make sure he doesn’t over do it.”
