The Chiefs will have safety Eric Berry in the lineup for Week One against the Chargers, but linebacker Justin Houston won’t be joining him.
Houston remains out after having surgery on his ACL in February and will miss at least the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list during the cut to 53 players. The Chiefs reportedly expect him to be out a bit longer than that, but not to miss the entire season as some feared when he first had the operation.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Chiefs are looking at November as the return date for Houston. He’s set to be examined by Dr. James Andrews after the Chiefs face the Steelers on October 2 and that will likely give the team a better idea about just when he’ll be ready to resume football activities.
Tamba Hali and Dee Ford will start at outside linebacker with Houston out of the lineup. Pressuring Philip Rivers on Sunday will be their first task of the season.