Between the baffling timing of star linebacker Justin Houston’s knee surgery in February and the vague six-to-12 month timetable for his return, the inexplicable gap in prompt and proper treatment threatened to derail a promising season.
Instead, the distressing scenario announced in March has been navigated rather deftly by the Chiefs … if not becoming an outright benefit with Houston back on the 53-man roster this week and apparently set to make his long-awaited return on Sunday at Carolina.
They are 6-2 without him, after all. And vulnerabilities notwithstanding, they have allowed just 59 points in the four games since the Pittsburgh debacle as much-doubted linebacker understudy Dee Ford has emerged as a genuine asset under the presumed duress of stepping in for Houston.