The Chiefs pass rush hinges on four things

Houston’s recovery time

There are some reports that suggest Houston’s knee rehabilitation could take as little as six months and as much as twelve. He’s starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list and is unlikely to see any action during Kansas City’s preseason. For the sake of the league’s fourth-best pass rush a year ago, the Chiefs hope he’ll return sooner rather than later. Protecting the young front half of the Chiefs secondary requires adequate pressure. Without it, the Chiefs third-ranked defense could take a step backward in 2016. Even a Justin Houston at less than 100% is better than the alternative.

How much gas Tamba has left in the tank 

In case you missed it, Tamba Hali — like Houston — will also start the final phase of the team’s offseason program on the PUP list. He, too, has a knee issue that required a procedure following the end of their 2015 campaign. These days, the ten-year veteran is banged up quite a bit. Hali’s only missed five starts his entire career, but the nicks have appeared more frequently the past three seasons. The question now becomes: how much gas is left in even a healthy Hali’s tank? When he has been on the field, he hasn’t had a season that exceeded 6.5 sacks since 2013. If he can’t give the Chiefs a lift while Houston’s out, the team will have precious few options left to provide pressure.

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