Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe appears to be making enough progress in his ongoing recovery from a back injury that it is now a possibility he could return to action in time for Week 1.
Head coach Andy Reid suggested as much when speaking with reporters Monday, just over a month after the surgery to remove a herniated disc initially left him with a somewhat unclear timeline heading into the regular season.
"He's doing great," Reid said, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN. "He's made big strides. I can just tell he's at least on schedule, if not a little bit ahead. He's had a great attitude with the whole thing.
"He says he's going to play in the first game. I go, 'OK, all right, we'll see.' Then the doctors have to evaluate him. That's really the thing – the time and how it's healing. That's up to the docs."
The two-time Pro Bowler being able to return to the field in time for Week 1, or shortly thereafter, would be a massive development for a Chiefs defense looking to build upon a strong 2014 campaign.
Poe has started in all but one game since joining the Chiefs as a first-round draft pick in 2012, quickly establishing himself as arguably the NFL's top nose tackle.
