The status of two of the Kansas City Chiefs’ best players remained unclear two days before their divisional-round matchup with the New England Patriots.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and linebacker Justin Houston will be game-time decisions for Saturday’s game at Gillette Stadium, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Thursday.
Maclin and Houston both were limited in practice Thursday, per Reid, and linebacker Tamba Hali did not participate as he nurses a broken thumb and swollen knees.
Maclin, who is in his first season with the Chiefs, suffered what the team called a high ankle sprain during last Saturday’s 30-0 rout of the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. The former Philadelphia Eagles wideout appeared in 15 of Kansas City’s 16 regular-season games, leading the team in catches (87), receiving yards (1,088) and receiving touchdowns (eight).
Houston, meanwhile, returned to action against the Texans after missing the final five weeks of the regular season with a hyperextended knee. He recorded two solo tackles in the win and assisted on another.
The Chiefs began the season 1-5 but have not lost since, reeling off 11 consecutive victories, including their first playoff win since 1993.
Thumbnail photo via John Rieger/USA TODAY Sports Images
