Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston does not have a contract, has not signed the franchise tag and did not attend this week’s minicamp. But coach Andy Reid is still optimistic he’ll see Houston at training camp.
“Whether he’s here or not, that just depends on how things go,” Reid said, via the Kansas City Star. “So we’ll continue to move on and hope that he is here at the beginning of camp.”
If a long-term contract can’t get done by July 15, Houston could only play this season on the one-year, $13.1 million franchise tender. If Houston is going to sign that tag, he may wait until the end of the preseason to do so. In fact, the sides might even be far enough apart that Houston would wait until after the regular season has started to sign, as another franchise player, Dez Bryant, is considering.
When Houston does arrive, Reid believes he’ll be in good shape.
“Do I think he’s working out? Absolutely. That’s him by nature,” Reid said. “He’s not going to let [conditioning] things slide on his side.”
So Houston will be ready to go once he arrives in Kansas City. Even if that’s not until the regular season.
