Justin Houston's injury is a knee sprain, Chiefs announce

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters after their win over the Buffalo Bills that the injury suffered to Justin Houston is a knee sprain. I am taking this as good news considering Houston, who left in the first half and didn't return, had his knee bent the wrong way.

The KC Star has the best photo of his injury. Check out the knee, how it looks hyperextended:

#Chiefs Justin Houston left the game in 1Q with this injury to his knee vs #Bills. Return questionable. @KCStar pic.twitter.com/OSc4ZPA8Ni

— David Eulitt (@davidphotokc) November 29, 2015

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora indicated an MRI was coming as does PFT's Mike Florio.

Justin Houston will have an MRI Mon on his knee but team is optimistic it is not too severe. He walked out of locker room on his own

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) November 29, 2015

MRI coming Monday afternoon for Chiefs LB Justin Houston. The team is currently optimistic, but that could change.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 29, 2015

A sprain seems like more like a week-to-week sort of injury rather than the alternatives (like an ACL). Houston is in great shape so i suspect he should be OK. The Chiefs have given themselves the slightest bit of breathing room in the AFC playoff picture but they still obviously need their best defensive player.

Credit the rest of the Chiefs defense for stepping up in Houston's absence. They got down 10-0 to the Bills but forced two turnovers en route to a 30-22 victory.