In another case of a pre-draft press conference turning into a discussion about a player already in the NFL, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said that linebacker Justin Houston “will be playing” in 2016, according to NFL.com.
Houston led the NFL with 22 sacks in 2014 and was named First Team All-Pro. He missed five games with a knee injury last season and posted just 7.5 sacks. It later was revealed that while Houston’s ACL wasn’t torn, there was a problem that needed surgery. The maximum timetable for his recovery was 12 months.
While optimistic about the prospects of Houston suiting up in 2016, Dorsey didn’t say when exactly he would play. And he didn’t reveal whether or not Houston’s recovery would affect the Chiefs’ draft plans.
The Chiefs still should look at pass rushers in the draft. They overcame a 1-5 start to make the playoffs in 2015, and they’re probably going to have to overcome the absence of Houston early in 2016.
