Chiefs have a good problem: Using Justin Houston and Dee Ford in pass rush

Justin Houston is back. Now what?

Houston, the Chiefs’ Pro Bowl outside linebacker, is practicing and pointing toward returning to action in Sunday’s game at Carolina.

Houston’s next snap will be his first since the Chiefs’ playoff loss at New England. He missed the final five games of the regular season because of a knee injury and while he tried to play in the postseason, he wasn’t the same.

“I was told when it happened it was my choice,” Houston said. “The coaches … never made me go back out there. I wanted to be out there with my team.”

The Chiefs’ pass rush hasn’t been the same without Houston, although it’s picked up lately with the play of Dee Ford.

The Chiefs, 6-2 at the season’s midpoint, are tied for 21st in the NFL with 16 sacks. They haven’t finished a season with fewer than 46 sacks since Andy Reid arrived in 2013.

Houston has 40  1/2 of his 56 career sacks in that span, including a team record 22 in 2014.

Emerging as the team’s leading pass rusher in Houston’s absence is Dee Ford, whose nine sacks rank third in the NFL. Nobody else on the team has more than 1  1/2 .

How the Chiefs will use Houston and Ford, who usually line up on the left side, is to be determined. But defensive coordinator Bob Sutton reminded that Houston and Tamba Hali have lined up on the same side.

“I don’t think any of those guys feel like they can only play on one side,” Sutton said.

The return of Eric Berry last season after missing the end of the 2014 season because of lymphoma could be the template used by the Chiefs with Houston. They’ll listen to Houston but also monitor his actions.

“I think they’re honest and they know when they’re getting a little winded,” Sutton said. “I think we would always go to the player and ask if he was OK, or if he said he needed a break that series. Most of the guys who have played a lot know when they’re doing OK and know when they need a little blow here.”

Houston returned to the practice field nearly three weeks ago and said game shape would be the only concern.

“I feel like I can play a whole game,” Houston said. “Now, my endurance might be a little behind because you can practice, you can run all day but it’s not like an actual game.”

The Chiefs haven’t said how or even if they’ll use Houston against the Panthers, but he said his expectation hasn’t changed.

“I expect what I normally do,” Houston said. “Dominate.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 3:03 PM with the headline "Chiefs have a good problem: Using Justin Houston and Dee Ford in pass rush."