Chiefs' Houston to miss 6-12 months following ACL surgery

The Kansas City Chiefs could be without star pass rusher Justin Houston for the entire 2016 campaign.

The Chiefs announced Tuesday that Houston underwent surgery in February on his ACL and is expected to be sidelined for six-to-12 months. Team trainer Rick Burkholder said while Houston had his knee scoped after the season, his ACL was found to be "intact but not functioning."

Despite the lengthy recovery, the Chiefs are holding out hope that Houston will be able to suit up at some point in 2016.

"We're hoping (he won't miss the season) just because of his work ethic and he's been a fast healer in the past and we're hoping that that's not the case and that he'll be able to play this season," head coach Andy Reid told reporters during a conference call, adding, "It's too early to be able to tell."

Houston missed the final five games of last season with a sprained PCL and was relatively ineffective during the Chiefs' two playoff matchups.

Kansas City re-signed 32-year-old linebacker Tamba Hali to a three-year, $22-million deal earlier this month in a move that was likely influenced by Houston's injury.