Chiefs’ injury update: Justin Houston, Jeremy Maclin, Jaye Howard all out Sunday
Pump the brakes on the Justin Houston return.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday that Houston, the standout inside linebacker and pass-rushing specialist, won’t play in Sunday’s game at Carolina.
Houston had been activated from the NFL’s physically unable to perform list earlier this week, but the Chiefs will give him at least one more week to recover from knee surgery that occurred in February to repair an ACL.
The Chiefs also will be without two current starters. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin aggravated a groin injury last week against the Jaguars. Maclin was in on two snaps in last Sunday’s victory against Jacksonville before missing the rest of the game.
Defensive end Jaye Howard will miss the game with a hip injury. He has appeared in every game for the Chiefs since 2014.
Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury and rookie cornerback D.J. White is doubtful while recovering from a bone fracture in his hand.
Houston had been listed as a limited participant in practice throughout the week. His next chance to play will be the following Sunday, when the Chiefs return home on Nov. 20 against Tampa Bay.
“We don’t want him to rush back,” said linebacker Dee Ford, who has emerged as the team’s top pass rusher with nine sacks this season.
For the Panthers, safety Colin Jones (concussion) and offensive tackle Michael Oher (concussion) are listed as out.
Questionable for Carolina are defensive tackles Vernon Butler (ankle) and Kyle Love (knee), centers Gino Gradkowski (knee) and Ryan Kalil (shoulder) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (knee).
The Chiefs’ injury news hasn’t been all bad this week. Starting quarterback Alex Smith and starting running back Spencer Ware will both play Sunday after being sidelined with head injuries last week against Jacksonville.
Blair Kerkhoff: 816-234-4730, @BlairKerkhoff
This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ injury update: Justin Houston, Jeremy Maclin, Jaye Howard all out Sunday."