KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin will miss his second straight game, and a half dozen other Chiefs remain questionable for this Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but odds are rising that linebacker Justin Houston may make his season debut.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston runs through drills during his first practice since returning from offseason knee surgery. Oct. 19, 2016 (Photo by Matt Derrick, ChiefsDigest.com)
“I think there’s a good chance,” coach Andy Reid said. “We’ll see how he worked out today.”
While Houston looks ready to play, several other Chiefs defenders remain on the mend. The team labeled defensive lineman Jaye Howard doubtful for the game with a hip flexor injury. That makes him unlikely to play this weekend.
“Everybody’s kind of iffy right now,” Reid said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Defensive tackle Dontari Poe missed practice Thursday and appears questionable on the team’s injury report. The coach remains hopefully he plays Sunday.
“He just had a back spasm,” Reid said. “He’ll be fine, he just didn’t practice.”
Cornerback Marcus Peters, among those listed questionable, appeared on the sidelines at practice without a helmet. He sustained a hip pointer against Carolina last Sunday and did not practice this week.
Linebacker Derrick did Johnson did return to practice on a limited basis Friday. The veteran continues nursing a hamstring injury.
One bright spot on the injury report belongs to cornerback D.J. White. He sustained a broken hand in week seven against New Orleans, but returned to practice this week. He shows no designation on the injury report, suggesting it likely he returns to the active line for the Buccaneers.
“He’s done a good job,” Reid said. “They’ve got it where he can move his hand and do that whole thing.”
Long snapper James Winchester did not practice this week following the tragic shooting death of his father Sunday. He remains with his family in Oklahoma. Tight end Travis Kelce and fullback Anthony Sherman may fill the long snapping role if Winchester cannot return Sunday.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
OUT: G Kevin Pamphile, RB Jacquizz Rodgers and C Even Smith
QUESTIONABLE: C Joe Hawley, WR Russell Shepard and TE Luke Stocker
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: RB Jacquizz Rodgers (foot), G Kevin Pamphile (concussion) and C Even Smith (knee)
Limited participation: None
Full participation: C Joe Hawley (knee), TE Luke Stocker (ankle) and WR Russell Shepard (hip)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: WR Jeremy Maclin
DOUBTFUL: DE Jaye Howard
QUESTIONABLE: LB Justin Houston, LB Derrick Johnson, CB Marcus Peters, DT Dontari Poe, CB Phillip Gaines and LS James Winchester
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: DT Dontari Poe (knee), DE Jaye Howard (hip), WR Jeremy Maclin (groin), CB Marcus Peters (hip) and LS James Winchester (not injury related)
Limited participation: LB Tamba Hali (knee), LB Derrick Johnson (groin), LB Justin Houston (knee) and CB Phillip Gaines (neck)
Full participation: CB D.J. White (hand) and D.J. Alexander (neck)
———-
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.
Follow @MattDerrick
———-
