Justin Houston

Justin Houston expected to return in November

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t even stepped on the field yet, and there is already huge news on Sunday morning.

The Chiefs placed outside linebacker Justin Houston on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning he can’t play the first six weeks of the season. Now, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, he might miss a touch more than that.

Houston is expected to miss time beyond the original six weeks, but perhaps come back in early November. If that’s the case, he would only miss seven games, returning Week 9 for a home date with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Houston comes back around the halfway mark the season, I would believe most Chiefs fans to be thrilled.

Houston was originally given a 6-12 month timetable in returning from a non-functioning ACL that was repaired by Dr. James Andrews in February. By that measure, he could have returned at the end of August or been out for the entire season.

If Houston does indeed come back in Week 9, he would be returning for the big push. He would be able to play in both games against the Denver Broncos, along with one game each against the San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders.

Most importantly, he would be getting into prime shape for a playoff run, and while other players would have wear-and-tear, he would be fresh. Nobody in Kansas City is happy about Houston being on the sideline, but an early November return would be a beautiful thing.