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Knee brace bigger issue for Justin Houston than knee injury

Wild Card Round - Kansas City Chiefs v Houston Texans

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 09: Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates their 30-0 win over the Houston Texans during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

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Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston returned to the lineup for last Saturday’s 30-0 win over the Texans after missing five games with a knee injury and he said Wednesday that the injury itself wasn’t a big issue during the game.

The brace that he’s wearing to protect the knee is a different story, however. Houston left the game briefly and said it was because he was having trouble adjusting to the brace, which he said “beat me up more than anything.”

“I kept banging my leg against the brace,” Houston said, via ESPN.com. “If I felt comfortable playing without it, I’d go out there [without] it. But I feel safe with it. Playing with that thing is never comfortable. I just have to get used to it.”

Houston had three tackles against the Texans, but didn’t record a sack. He said he “felt rusty” rushing the passer and felt he was doing better as the game went on.

The Chiefs could use a more comfortable Houston coming off the edge as they try to slow down Tom Brady and the Patriots offense this weekend.