KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The prospect less than two months ago that nose tackle Dontari Poe could play for the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season opener seemed absurd. Poe, the Chiefs’ Pro Bowl nose tackle, had surgery on July 15 to have a herniated disk removed from his back.

But coach Andy Reid said on Monday that Poe returned to practice this week on a limited basis and had a chance to play on Sunday when the Chiefs open the season at the Houston Texans.

“He’s on schedule to possibly have the opportunity to play against the Texans,’’ Reid said. “We’ll just have to see how he does once he get the pads on on Wednesday.

“He says he feels good. He felt good after [Sunday’s] work. We’ll see how it goes, take it day by day.’’

The Chiefs have filled in for Poe with different people. Jaye Howard has played on running downs and Mike Catapano in passing situations. The Chiefs released Catapano over the weekend and could use either Howard or Mike DeVito in that role in Houston.

Or Poe could play. General manager John Dorsey seemed to enjoy the intrigue surrounding that situation.

“You never know,’’ he said when asked whether Poe might be ready to play on Sunday.