Good morning, Addicts! Luckily, this morning has not started with the same vigor as the last, with the news coming down that outside linebacker Justin Houston is going to be out 6-12 months with an ACL injury.
On the positive side, Houston was operated on back in mid-February, giving him ample time to come back and get on the field without missing a regular-season game. However, should the recovery take somewhere in the 10-12 month range, Houston will miss the entire 2016 season.
Kansas City has to simply be hoping for Houston to contribute during the second half of the season. Of course, we have already seen incredible comebacks in recent times, from Eric Berry to Dontari Poe.
Here is the news you need to know…
Justin Houston could miss 2016 season due to ACL injury – Adam Teicher of ESPN
"Houston is one year removed from a 2014 season in which he led the NFL with 22 sacks. His 2015 season was interrupted by a knee injury that caused him to miss the regular season’s final five games. He returned to play in both playoff games, though he wasn’t effective and didn’t play a full role in either game."
Houston injury explains why Chiefs made some of their offseason moves – Adam Teicher of ESPN
"The Chiefs obviously wanted Houston back for the playoffs, a goal that seemed reasonable with the initial diagnosis of a posterior cruciate injury. After missing the final five regular-season games, Houston did play in both playoff contests even though he obviously was still limited. He wasn’t particularly effective and didn’t play as much as he otherwise would have."
Jonathan Massaquoi is player we keep forgetting about – Stagdsp of Arrowhead Pride
"Going into this offseason, it was clear that outside linebacker depth needed to be among the priorities for John Dorsey and Andy Reid. Bob Sutton’s defense is predicated upon a dominant pass rush. When injuries kept Tamba Hali and Justin Houston out of the game late last season and in the playoffs, the entire team suffered."