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Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs expect star defensive tackle Chris Jones and starting offensive linemen Jawaan Taylor and Joe Thuney to be available for their regular-season opener on Sept. 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, coach Andy Reid said on Monday.
Jones and Thuney, both first-team All-Pro players last season, haven’t played in the preseason because of injuries. Jones has a shoulder injury while Thuney has a pectoral injury.
Taylor injured his shoulder in practice last week and didn’t play in last week’s preseason game against the Lions.
Others whom Reid expects to play against the Ravens are linebacker Nick Bolton and safety Justin Reid. Bolton (elbow) and Reid (quad) have not played in the preseason.
Reid said he expects to sit the starters for the Chiefs’ final preseason game against the Bears on Thursday.
The only player whose availability is in question for the regular-season opener next month is wide receiver Marquise Brown, according to Reid. One of the Chiefs’ top free-agent signings, “Hollywood” Brown dislocated the sternoclavicular joint in his shoulder after making a catch in their preseason opener against Jacksonville.
Brown got the shoulder set without surgery, though, and that should speed up his recovery time and perhaps get him on the field quicker than the initial estimate of four to six weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.