Justin Houston has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list but has also shown up at training camp working out off to the side of the practice field. The PUP designation tells us nothing except what we already knew… that Justin would not be ready for regular season game one. However, it’s a huge relief for fans to have him there near the practice field… in person. It’s likely a bigger plus for his teammates. The Kansas City Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid, said yesterday,
“He’s the same as he was before — we’re taking it day-to-day. When you’re around him, he gives you confidence that he’s going to be ready to go this year, but we’ll see how it all works out. I’m going to listen to the doctors, the trainers, and Justin and see how things work out.”
Houston’s presence and association with Eric Berry have fans projecting his return sooner than later. Berry was publically buoyed by Houston in a demonstrative fashion which was repeated again and again –Houston lifting his jersey to reveal Berry’s #29 — the year Berry was overcoming Hodgkin’s Lymphoma… which was also the same year Houston racked up 22 sacks. A couple of weeks ago I published a piece about Justin Houston and remarks coach Reid had made about him that could be construed as “Justin may never see the field again.” Now, with Houston’s very presence along the sideline would suggest a quite different life path. His mere presence on the PUP would rather clearly indicate he’s not done with football.
The scenario that has Justin Houston returning for the Chiefs game against the Raiders in Oakland on October 16th, the week following their Bye Week, seems like the most likely optimistic scenario. Since Houston can return at any point in time while on the PUP, it also appears likely we will be seeing him back at OLB for the Chiefs sometime during the 2016 season.
On another news from ILB Josh Mauga was announced out for the year with a labral tear.
Josh Mauga is out for the season with a labral tear.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) August 30, 2016
From the Mayo Clinic staff, the definition of a labral tear is as such:
“A hip labral tear involves the ring of cartilage, called the labrum, that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. The labrum acts like a rubber seal or gasket to help hold the ball at the top of your thighbone securely within your hip socket. Athletes who participate in such sports as ice hockey, soccer, football, golfing and ballet are at higher risk of developing a hip labral tear. Structural abnormalities of the hip also can lead to a hip labral tear.”
It sounds like the recovery time for this type of injury is two-fold: 1) four to six week for the Labrum to reattach to the rim of the bone and 2) four to six weeks to regain strength. In the case of a professional athlete, it may take longer considering the hits a player can take to that region.
None of that is good news for K.C.. Although Justin March looks like the eventual replacement for Derrick Johnson, he isn’t a “best fit” next to D.J.. That player needs to be someone more stout than the 6-foot-0 222 pound March. Is this a position that the crafty Dorsey looks to bolster as more players end up on the cutting room floor? Stay tuned.
In other front office cut-down action, the following players are now on the street: DB Bryce Cheek, DL Niko Davis, OL Curtis Feigt, CB Malcolm Jackson, WR Seantavius Jones, LB Jonathan Massaquoi, WR Kashif Moore, C Drew Nowak, WR Mitch Mathews. FB Trey Mallard has also been waived injured but as Frank Rodela has mentioned, Mallard will likely return to the team and go through rehab.
Thoughts? Protestations? Glad-mirations?