Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston Activated From PUP List

The Kansas City Chiefs have been playing without, arguably, their best player on defense. That may change soon as Justin Houston has been activated from the PUP list.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been among the best in the NFL this year. However, Chiefs fans have noticed a clear difference from last season. While the Chiefs defense has been very good, they haven’t been that dominating force we saw in 2015. A major reason for that has been the absence of Justin Houston. That may be set to change very soon though.

The Chiefs activated Justin Houston from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list today. Houston has missed the first eight games of the 2016 season on the PUP list while recovering from knee surgery. This was a source of frustration for Chiefs Kingdom early on. Fortunately, the defense has been able to play well without him.

While Justin Houston was activated from the PUP list, there is no guarantee that he will be available to play right away. Houston was limited in his first practice today and there isn’t much time for him to get ready for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. The Chiefs have shown that they are willing to take it slow with injuries.

What Does Justin Houston’s Return Mean?

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The Kansas City Chiefs defense is based largely on the pass rush. In recent weeks that has been provided by Dee Ford. However, there is no denying that adding one of the best pass rushers in the NFL to the mix would be a boost. That boost goes beyond what Houston provides in terms of getting after the quarterback.

Justin Houston also happens to be one of the better run defenders in the NFL. He is capable of playing well in space or setting the edge against the run. That will give the Chiefs an added advantage in how they are able to attack the opposing team in running situations.

However, the biggest advantage will come for the secondary. One of the best ways to assist a secondary is by providing a top notch pass rush. When the quarterback has less time to work with, he is more likely to make a mistake. For a Chiefs defensive back group that is on the young side, getting this kind of help is very important.

On top of all of that, Justin Houston will take pressure off of the defensive line and inside linebackers to have to play both the run and pass. That alone will open up the options for Bob Sutton.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are looking like one of the best teams in the NFL, and are now set to get even better. A healthy Justin Houston could very well be the thing that helps push the Chiefs over the top. Chiefs Kingdom, it’s time to get excited.

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