Justin Houston on active roster but Chiefs unsure if he’ll play Sunday

The Chiefs activated outside linebacker Justin Houston from the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday, as expected. But Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he was still unsure if Houston will play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Per league rules, the Chiefs either had to place Houston — who has been practicing for about three weeks now — on the 53-man roster or put him on injured reserve by Wednesday.

Houston, who is working his way back from offseason knee surgery, made 22 sacks in 2014 and 7  1/2 last season before a knee injury kept him out of five regular-season games. He returned to face the Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card playoff game but was limited the next week against New England and had surgery on the knee a month later to repair what the club called a “non-functioning” anterior cruciate ligament.

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said Wednesday that Houston’s return to the field will be significant.

“You’re talking about one of the elite players in this league — especially when it comes to getting after the quarterback,” Smith said. “That’s such a priority for every NFL team, whether it’s getting to the quarterback or protecting him. To have him back, his presence and leadership and his energy is something everyone feeds off of. It will be good to have him back on the field with us.”

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Justin Houston on active roster but Chiefs unsure if he’ll play Sunday."