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Justin Houston

Knee surgery big blow for KC defense

Pass rusher Justin Houston, who in 2014 led the league with 22 sacks, suffered a knee injury last season, one he tried to play through in the playoffs. Turns out it was more significant than was believed at the time, and now his 2016 season is in jeopardy.

Houston had surgery to repair his ACL last month, and he's being given a recovery time of 6-12 months. That puts the start of the season as a long shot at the most optimistic, and Andy Reid admits "We're hoping he'll be able to play this season."

Houston has missed five games in two of his last three seasons, yet still has recorded 40.5 sacks in those 38 games. Kansas City, meanwhile, has had one of the league's two best pass rushes in that span. It's the only team, in fact, that had at least 45 sacks in each of the last three years. Any time he misses in 2016 -- and it sounds like it will be a lot -- is a major blow.

As a team, Kansas City has 140 sacks over the last three years. The only team with more than that is Carolina. Big loss for Kansas City's fantasy defense.

TEAM SACKS, 2013-2015
Team'13'14'15Total
Carolina604044144
Kansas City474647140
New England484049137
Denver414152134
St. Louis534041134
Buffalo575421132
Green Bay444143128
Baltimore404937126
Minnesota414143125
NY Jets414539125
Philadelphia374937123
Arizona473536118
Indianapolis424135118
Seattle443737118
Detroit334242117
Houston323845115
Pittsburgh343348115
New Orleans493431114
Tennessee363939114
Jacksonville314536112
Miami423931112
Washington363738111
Tampa Bay353638109
Chicago313935105
Cincinnati432042105
NY Giants344723104
San Francisco383628102
Cleveland403129100
Oakland38223898
Dallas34283193
San Diego35263293
Atlanta32221973

--Andy Richardson

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