Chiefs get both Justin Houston and Anthony Hitchens back on the practice field

The status of starting linebackers Justin Houston and Anthony Hitchens remain up in the air for Sunday’s game in Cleveland, but both took part in Thursday’s practice.

Houston and Hitchens were expected to have limited participation, but both were on the field during the brief portion of practice open to reporters. The Chiefs likely won’t announce a game status for either before Friday afternoon.

Houston, now in his eighth season with the Chiefs, has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury. A starter at outside linebacker since his rookie season, he led the team with 9 1/2 sacks last season. He had recorded three sacks through the first five games of this season.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Houston would do “a little” in practice on Wednesday, but the team held a light workout and Houston did not participate at all. However, he was slated to take part in practice on Thursday.

Hitchens, a free-agent acquisition this offseason and the team’s leading tackler, suffered bruised ribs in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. The starter at inside linebacker alongside Reggie Ragland, Hitchens was present during the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media, but he was on the sideline as a non-participant.

Hitchens has played the fourth-most defensive snaps of any Chiefs player this season, trailing only defensive backs Steven Nelson, Ron Parker and Kendall Fuller.

As a linebacker who is typically on the field for both running and passing situations, he has been the player designated to have helmet-to-sideline communication via transmitter. That player is identified by a green-dot sticker on his helmet. One player on offense and one on defense at a time is allowed to have helmet-to-sideline communication.

Each offensive and defensive unit can have only one player on the field with a speaker in his helmet. Each team is limited to three active radio receivers to be used on defense by players who have been designated either as primary or backup users.

Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton did not single out any one player who’d take over that role if Hitchens doesn’t play.

“It really matters what group we think is going to be out there from an offensive standpoint, personnel-wise,” Sutton said on Thursday. “You really can go with anybody because you’ve got your three. That would honestly depend a little bit on how the game was going and what group we were going to have to match with.

“If they weren’t in base, then you know you can do any of the guys you want — Dorian (O’Daniel) could do it, anybody.”

Safety Eric Berry (heel), outside linebacker Frank Zombo (hamstring) and center Mitch Morse (concussion) were not expected to participate in Thursday’s practice.

Lynn Worthy

Lynn Worthy covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.

This story was originally published November 1, 2018 at 3:11 PM.