| The Chiefs allowed 299 yards passing to Atlanta in the opener without injured CB Brandon Flowers. His possible return could be a big lift to Kansas City's secondary on Sunday in Buffalo. (US Presswire) |
Brandon Flowers, it's your call now.
Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said on Friday that Flowers has been cleared by doctors to play on Sunday against Buffalo and it's up to Flowers whether he plays, the Kansas Star reported.
"The doctors have told him he can play if he feels good about it," Crennel said. "He was hurt, and he was working to try to get it better, and it's better and he's working through it. I don't know that it's 100 percent, but he's working through it. He's able to do more, and so we're going to ask him to do more."
Crennel said last Sunday after the Atlanta game that Flowers did not play because he had not been a full participant at practice. Flowers bruised his left heel during training camp on July 31. He did not practice until last week when he was a limited participant.
On Thursday, Flowers was a full practice participant for the first time since the injury. Crennel had said that he would have to practice to play against Buffalo, so Flowers has passed that test.
CB Jacques Reeves started in place of Flowers in the 40-24 loss to Atlanta, and QB Matt Ryan went after Reeves often. Getting Flowers back would put the Chiefs back to close to full strength -- S Kendrick Lewis is still out with a should injury. CB Jalil Brown, who suited up but rarely played against Atlanta, was also a full participant on Thursday and should be available to play more in Buffalo.
Brown's presence should help ease Flowers back into the lineup.
"You have to kind of temper it and know that conditioning will be a factor," Crennel said. "If the guy is able to play, you might have to monitor his reps. Some of that will depend on how the game goes. Probably asking him to play 100 plays might not be the thing to do. But you can give him a break now and then and maybe he can get through a game."
Follow Chiefs reporter C.J. Moore on Twitter @CBSChiefs and @cjmoore4.