KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pro Bowl linebacker Justin Houston said he would be available to play for the Chiefs in Saturday's first-round playoff game against the Houston Texans.
"That's the plan, to play,'' said Houston, who leads the Chiefs in sacks with 7.5 despite missing the last five games of the regular season with what his team called a hyperextended left knee. Houston led the NFL in sacks in 2014, when he finished with 22.
"I've definitely got some rust to knock off. After the first quarter, I'll be all right.''
Houston's situation is similar to the one he faced two years ago, when he also missed the last several games of the regular season with a dislocated elbow.
He returned to play in the Chiefs' playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
"You live and you learn,'' Houston said. "You do know what to expect now compared to a few years ago.''