Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston was slowed by a knee issue late in 2015, causing him to miss the final five games of the regular season and limiting him to a cameo appearance in the team’s playoff loss to the Patriots.
Houston had his knee scoped in February, an operation that didn’t seem like it would impact his availability for the 2016 season. That outlook changed on Tuesday, however.
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said, via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, that Dr. James Andrews found that Houston’s ACL was not functioning correctly after last year’s injury and that it was fixed during the scope. Burkholder said that there is a 6-12 month recovery period for the injury, which led to a question for coach Andy Reid about the possibility that Houston would miss the season.
“We’re hoping (not), just because of his work ethic and he’s a fast healer,” Reid said, via the Kansas City Star.
Houston’s status will obviously be a chief concern for the Chiefs in the coming months, but it sounds like it will be a lot closer to training camp before there’s any clear idea about when he’ll be back on the field.