Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston Returns to Practice
By Charles Lam
The Kansas City Chiefs released a statement today, that outside linebacker, Justin Houston, will practice today. What exactly does this mean for the team?
Justin Houston will participate in individual drills and see how everything is holding up. The return of Houston will give the KC Chiefs a much-needed boost at pass rush.
His presence will also help the young cornerbacks. When the Chiefs get to the quarterback, the guy doesn’t have a lot of time to throw a perfect pass giving the young corner more time to read the play and possibly intercept or bat the ball away.
Justin Houston started the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Houston’s battling his way back from reconstructive knee surgery he underwent this offseason.
When Justin Houston is fully healthy, all NFL quarterbacks that face him should be deathly afraid. He compiled 22 sacks during the 2014 season. That’s more than one sack per game for an average of 1.375 sacks per game.
Andy Reid said Justin Houston will practice today. "We just need to see what he can do out here," Reid said.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) October 19, 2016
It’s not a surprise that Justin Houston won’t start against the Saints. In fact, the Kansas City Chiefs have 21 days from now to put Houston on the active roster or lose him for the rest of the season.
Justin Houston's 21-day window has began. He can be made active anytime in this window & will have to be if he's going to play this year.
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) October 19, 2016
I think Justin Houston will return in two to three weeks. The KC Chiefs eased in Jamaal Charles back to playing time after his ACL surgery and I see the same kind of approach happening with Justin Houston.
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The earliest game I could see Houston playing in is against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 6. The Jaguars game is at home in the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium, the loudest stadium on earth.
The home atmosphere should help Houston feel more comfortable. Although I wouldn’t put it past the Kansas City Chiefs to start Houston for the first time this season on the road.
The 21-day period ends on Wednesday, November 9. The KC Chiefs could hold off until then to activate Justin Houston to the active roster.
If the team takes that route, Houston might not play until November 13 against the Carolina Panthers on the road.
The return of the once great Kansas City Chiefs pass rush is almost here. Justin Houston will open the door for other guys like Chris Jones to step up thanks to double teams on Houston.
Next: 30 Greatest Chiefs of All-Time
The wait is almost over Chiefs Kingdom. Rejoice because quarterbacks will be on the ground of NFL stadiums thanks to the Chiefs pass rush sooner than we think.