Dee Ford, Albert Wilson ruled out vs Dallas Cowboys
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Dee Ford and Albert Wilson when they suit up to play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
As the Kansas City Chiefs officially begin the second half of their season’s schedule, they have to be heartened at the return from injury for some players even as they continue to lose others. Unfortunately, the Chiefs will be without pass rusher Dee Ford and wide receiver Albert Wilson as they prepare to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9.
The loss of Dee Ford will hurt the Chiefs’ ability to get after Dak Prescott and force the second-year pro to make poor decisions, an already difficult task as it is. Prescott is already an efficient quarterback who rarely makes mistakes, but the Cowboys line is suspect at this point in the season and would be susceptible to a team loaded with pass rushers. Unfortunately Ford is out.
The good news for the Chiefs’ pass rush is that Justin Houston is showing every week that he’s every bit the complete defender that he was when he was last healthy. He might require more practice time off during the week, but Houston is one of the team’s best run defenders while also providing the best overall pass rush. He has 7.5 sacks so far this year to lead the Chiefs.
More from Arrowhead Addict
- Former Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las Vegas
- Chiefs Kingdom: Get ready to break contract news
- Chiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in Germany
- Podcast: Breaking down the Chiefs biggest roster battles
- KC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching accelerator
In addition, the Chiefs are getting Tamba Hali back for the first time, one of the team’s all time sack leaders with 89.5 in his career. Hali has been on the Physically Unable to Play list for the first eight weeks of the season, but was just activated to the 53-man roster earlier this week. It’s uncertain whether or not he’s game ready, but if so, he could provide the sort of boost needed in Ford’s absence.
Over at wide receiver, the Chiefs being without Wilson hurts more than most will realize. Wilson doesn’t move the meter much in the statbook, but he’s a smart, savvy receiver who is always in the right place, provides solid blocking, plays intelligently on special teams and provides reliable hands as Alex Smith checks down his options.
The Chiefs offense will enjoy the return of another player along the offensive front as lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif takes his rightful place as the starter at right guard. Duvernay-Tardif has been out since Week 4 when he went down against Washington. The Chiefs rushing attack has slowed considerably since then, so it will be great to see Kareem Hunt running behind a healthy line for the first time in several weeks.