Oct. 25, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston (50) after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston will be in training camp to rehabilitate his knee.
Coach Andy Reid, however, made it clear Houston, who underwent an anterior cruciate ligament procedure in mid-February, isn’t likely to see any work on the practice field throughout camp.
“I don’t think that will happen,” Reid said Tuesday. “That one I can tell you; that’s not going to happen.”
The Chiefs originally offered a six to 12-month timetable for Houston’s return, and offered optimism Houston could play at some point during the regular season.
But with six months approaching from when Houston underwent the ACL procedure, it doesn’t appear the star pass rusher is closer to being back on the practice field based on the earlier estimate.
Reid emphasized there isn’t any new update on Houston’s recovery process.
“I would tell you it’s the same situation we talked about before,” Reid said. “We’ll just see how it goes.
“Between the doctors, they’ll let me know, and Justin, we’ll try to keep open communication with all parties here to make sure that he’s safe to go out and play when that time and if that time comes about.”
The Chiefs have depth behind Houston with Tamba Hali, third-year pro Dee Ford, Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses.
Ford, in particular, started five games in place of Houston in 2015 and will get the first shot in the starting lineup opposite Hali for as long as Houston is out.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for The Topeka Capital-Journal and ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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