Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston reportedly will not play again during the regular season, but he is hoping to make it back for the playoffs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Houston suffered a hyperextended knee against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 29 and has not practiced since. The 2014 NFL sack leader recorded 22 sacks last season and is a huge playmaker for the Chiefs. Houston visited Dr. James Andrew this past week, but the injury is no more serious than the team initially feared, according to Schefter.
The Chiefs are currently projected as the last wild card team in the current AFC playoff picture, but with the Jets improving to 9-5 on Saturday and the Steelers tied with Kansas City at 8-5, there is no room for error. The Chiefs have been one of the most surprising teams in 2015, as they started the season 1-5 and have since won seven straight.
There is no guarantee that Kansas City will even make the playoffs, and head coach Andy Reid will need linebacker Derrick Johnson to continue to lead this defense down the stretch. Johnson leads the team with 88 total tackles and has created havoc for opposing quarterbacks in 2015 with four sacks and two interceptions. The Chiefs are currently the eighth best defense team in the NFL in terms of yards allowed and, if they can make the postseason, will provide a difficult matchup for any offense.
