We wondered earlier whether Justin Houston should play for the Kansas City Chiefs today after returning to practice on Friday after a month long absence due to a hyperextended knee. According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, Houston will NOT be playing against the Raiders on Sunday. This will be confirmed once the Chiefs inactives come out at 2 p.m. this afternoon.
Chiefs OLB Justin Houston returned to practice on Friday, but the expectation has been that he'll sit out today's game against Oakland.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 3, 2016
With a playoff spot clinched, the Chiefs can afford to take their time with Houston. While they can still win the AFC West, the game that really matters will come next week on Wild Card weekend. It would be nice if Houston could get some reps in this week so he's not completely rusty in the playoffs but he has been here before. It was the 2013 season when Houston was hurt in Week 11 and didn't return until the playoffs. He had one sack in that playoff game against the Colts.
Tamba Hali is questionable as well so the Chiefs very well could be going through a second consecutive week with both of their top pass rushers missing. They proved last week they can win a game without them out there but the Raiders are a more difficult opponent than the Browns.