Chiefs injury report: Mitch Morse, Justin Houston remain out of practice

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t appear to be any closer to having Justin Houston, Eric Berry or Mitch Morse back on the field after practice on Thursday.

The Kansas City Chiefs will likely be missing a few key players against the Cincinnati Bengals if practice reports are any indication of who will play on Sunday night.

Starting center Mitch Morse has been sidelined by a concussion suffered against the New England Patriots and remains in the league’s concussion protocol. He missed another practice on Thursday and it looks as if Jordan Devey will anchor the center position heading into Sunday Night Football.

Justin Houston also continues to sit out of practice, and the Chiefs pass rush has suffered for it as the Patriots were able to key in on Dee Ford last Sunday. Ford has been a revelation across from Houston this year in a contract season, and the Chiefs pass rush has been more robust than recent years with two productive forces at work along with young talent in the wings like Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks. Unfortunately Houston has been injured and didn’t even play in New England.

Star safety Eric Berry remains out of practice, which has now become a stale story for the Chiefs. The team has yet to place him on injured reserve and Andy Reid has spoken positively of Berry’s condition. That said, Berry has yet to be a full participant in any practice since mid-August and the platitudes are running thin on a team that could use significant help at safety.

It appears that, once again, the Chiefs will be without at least Berry and Houston on the defense, their two best defensive players. That means pressure is on Patrick Mahomes to keep the offense revved and ready for another Sunday night shootout.