One of the Chiefs’ Pro Bowl outside linebackers missed his second consecutive practice as Kansas City prepared for Saturday’s wild-card game at Indianapolis.
Tamba Hali (knee) was one of two Chiefs player to sit out on Thursday, with rookie right tackle Eric Fisher (groin, shoulder) also not practicing.
Hali, 30, notched 11 sacks for the Chiefs in the regular season. He was voted to the Pro Bowl on Friday for the third time in his career.
“It’s really just a matter of the swelling coming down in the knee,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Hali on Thursday, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “It’s been up. We want to get it out of there. We’ve been a little cautious with him today.”
Rookie Josh Martin started in Hali’s right outside linebacker spot in the season finale at San Diego. Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses are other options at outside linebacker.
If Fisher can’t go, the Chiefs could turn to Donald Stephenson, who’s made three starts in place of the 2013 No. 1 overall pick this season.
Every other player on the Chiefs’ injury report practiced without limitation on Thursday, with left tackle Branden Albert (knee), wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (concussion) and outside linebacker Justin Houston (elbow) among the full participants.
Houston has missed the last five games with his injury, but he has practiced in full this week. Like Hali, he has been voted to the Pro Bowl.