Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Justin Houston is officially inactive for the team's regular season finale against the Oakland Raiders. He'll miss his fifth straight game with a knee injury but is expected to be ready for the playoffs.
Justin Houston will miss regular season finale vs. Raiders
The star pass rusher is expected to be ready for the playoffs.
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Houston hasn't played since suffering a hyper-extended knee against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12. It's the first time since 2013 that the 26-year-old has missed any significant action. Houston got in a limited practice on Friday and was listed as questionable for Week 17, but it's likely he will need to get in at least one full practice before being cleared to play again.
The Chiefs still have something to play for despite already clinching a playoff berth. They can win the AFC West if they win and the Denver Broncos lose to the San Diego Chargers later in the day. Kansas City currently holds the No. 5 seed, but could drop to No. 6 if it loses and the New York Jets win. Despite those stakes, the team opted to save Houston for the game that really counts next week.
Houston was having another top-level season, racking up 7.5 sacks in just 11 games. The injury ended up derailing what could’ve been a Defensive Player of the Year campaign, although he was voted to the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight year.
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