The optimism was growing this week that Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker and four-time Pro Bowler Justin Houston could make his season debut on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but that won't be happening according to head coach Andy Reid.
"[Houston] will be listed most-likely as out," Reid told the media on Friday afternoon. "We haven't put the final on that but most likely that will be what takes place."
Houston was later declared as out on the official injury designation for Sunday's game.
Houston was moved from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to the active 53-man roster on Wednesday, which was the last day of the 21-day practice window allowed by NFL rules regarding the PUP list. He had to be activated by Wednesday afternoon or he would have remained on the PUP list and missed the season.
With Houston's confident tone about potentially playing on Sunday and now with the decision that he won't be on the field, Reid said he had a good week but wanted to check with him first.
"He moved around pretty good but I want to have a chance to talk with him before we put anything down," Reid said of Houston's injury designation for Sunday. "He had a very good week of practice. He looked good, but I'm probably leaning more towards the other way, but I want to talk to him and I haven't done that yet."
When asked if there were perhaps any setbacks this week with Houston, Reid quickly shot that down.
"No. There were no setbacks," he said.
The Chiefs have always been careful with players coming back from injury, and regardless of a player's stature—which, in the case of Houston, is one of the NFL's elite defenders—the important thing is that the player is in a position to be effective for a number of games moving forward into the season.
The question now becomes whether or not Houston will make his season debut at home next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who travel to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Reid also mentioned that receiver Jeremy Maclin (groin) and defensive lineman Jaye Howard (hip flexor strain) will be inactive on Sunday against the Panthers.
A look into the Chiefs practice as they prepare to take on the Carolina Panthers
