KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Outside linebacker Justin Houston (knee) headlines a quartet of Chiefs players ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders.
Nov. 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston (50) leaves the field following an injury during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Houston suffered a hyperextended knee in Week 12 and did not practice the entire week.
Linebacker Dee Ford (back, probable) is expected to start in Houston’s place and the second-year pro has coach Andy Reid’s confidence.
“I think we all have confidence in Dee,” Reid told reporters Friday. “He’s had some good snaps for us this year so I think he looks forward to the opportunity of playing and having a chance to start, I think that’s a big thing to him and we’ll see how he does.”
Safety Husain Abdullah (neck), rookie center Mitch Morse (concussion) and wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas (concussion) are also ruled out.
Abdullah started the week as a full participant in practice before being limited Thursday. Reid told reporters Abdullah wasn’t feeling good and the Chiefs took action.
“We put him through the concussion protocol and he has some symptoms for that,” Reid said. “He’s got some symptoms there so we’re going to list him as out for this game.”
The Chiefs list guard Jeff Allen (ankle) and defensive end Allen Bailey (calf) as questionable. Bailey has missed three straight games, while Allen suffered his ankle injury in Week 12.
Reid seemed optimistic about Allen’s availability for Sunday.
“Jeff Allen did practice today and actually looked pretty good,” Reid said. “So we’ll see how he does tomorrow morning and how he feels. But he got most of his work, again, today.
The Chiefs list punter Dustin Colquitt (right knee), wide receiver Chris Conley (hand), cornerback Marcus Cooper (thumb), defensive end Mike Devito (shoulder), left tackle Eric Fisher (neck), linebacker Tamba Hali (knee), tight end Travis Kelce (groin), linebacker Josh Mauga (heel), running back Spencer Ware (hamstring) and running back Charcandrick West (hamstring) as probable.
Fisher, in particular, appears set to not miss any time after not finishing the Week 12 game with his injury. He put in a full practice Friday for a second straight day.
The Raiders list linebacker Neiron Ball (knee) and cornerback Keith McGill (ankle) as out. Center Rodney Hudson (ankle) is doubtful to face his former team.
Friday’s injury report as released by the Chiefs:
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: S Husain Abdullah (neck), LB Justin Houston (knee), C Mitch Morse (concussion), WR De’Anthony Thomas (concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: G Jeff Allen (ankle), DE Allen Bailey (calf)
PROBABLE: P Dustin Colquitt (right knee), WR Chris Conley (hand), CB Marcus Cooper (thumb), DE Mike Devito (shoulder), T Eric Fisher (neck), LB Dee Ford (back), LB Tamba Hali (knee), TE Travis Kelce (groin), LB Josh Mauga (heel), RB Spencer Ware (hamstring), RB Charcandrick West (hamstring)
Practice report
Did not participate in practice:
Wednesday: OL Jeff Allen (ankle), S Eric Berry (not injury related), DE Mike DeVito (shoulder), LB Tamba Hali (knee), LB Justin Houston (knee), C Mitch Morse (concussion), WR De’Anthony Thomas (concussion)
Thursday: LB Justin Houston (knee), C Mitch Morse (concussion), WR De’Anthony Thomas (concussion)
Friday: S Husain Abdullah (neck), DE Mike Devito (shoulder), LB Tamba Hali (knee), LB Justin Houston (knee), C Mitch Morse (concussion), WR De’Anthony Thomas (concussion)
Limited participation:
Wednesday: DE Allen Bailey (calf), LT Eric Fisher (neck)
Thursday: S Husain Abdullah (neck), OL Jeff Allen (ankle), DE Allen Bailey (calf), DE Mike DeVito (shoulder), LB Tamba Hali (knee)
Full participation:
Wednesday: S Husain Abdullah (neck), P Dustin Colquitt (knee), WR Chris Conley (hand), LB Dee Ford (back), TE Travis Kelce (groin), LB Josh Mauga (heel), RB Spencer Ware (hamstring), RB Charcandrick West (hamstring)
Thursday: P Dustin Colquitt (knee), CB Marcus Cooper (thumb), WR Chris Conley (hand), LT Eric Fisher (neck), LB Dee Ford (back), TE Travis Kelce (groin), LB Josh Mauga (heel), RB Spencer Ware (hamstring), RB Charcandrick West (hamstring)
Friday: G Jeff Allen (ankle), DE Allen Bailey (calf), P Dustin Colquitt (right knee), WR Chris Conley (hand), CB Marcus Cooper (thumb), T Eric Fisher (neck), LB Dee Ford (back), TE Travis Kelce (groin), LB Josh Mauga (heel), RB Spencer Ware (hamstring), RB Charcandrick West (hamstring)
OAKLAND RAIDERS
OUT: LB Neiron Ball (knee), CB Keith McGill (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: C Rodney Hudson (ankle), RB Taiwan Jones (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Neiko Thorpe (knee)
PROBABLE: S Charles Woodson (shoulder)
Practice report
Did not participate in practice:
Wednesday: LB Neiron Ball (knee), C Rodney Hudson (ankle), CB Keith McGill (ankle), S Charles Woodson (shoulder)
Thursday: LB Neiron Ball (knee), CB Keith McGill (ankle)
Friday: LB Neiron Ball (knee), C Rodney Hudson (ankle), RB Taiwan Jones (knee), CB Keith McGill (ankle)
Limited participation:
Wednesday: RB Taiwan Jones (knee)
Thursday: C Rodney Hudson (ankle), RB Taiwan Jones (knee), CB Neiko Thorpe (knee)
Friday: CB Neiko Thorpe (knee)
Full participation:
Thursday: S Charles Woodson (shoulder)
Friday: S Charles Woodson (shoulder)
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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