Kansas City, Mo. ? Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters has sprained ligaments in his knee, but will not be out for the year, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said Monday.

Waters, a key part of the Chiefs’ offense, was hurt on the second possession in Sunday’s 31-17 victory over St. Louis. He appeared to be the most seriously injured of five players who had to leave the game and did not return.

Edwards said he did not know how long Waters would be gone, but that he was not a candidate for injured reserve.

“I just know he’s out this week,” Edwards said. “He should be able to come back.”

Nevertheless, it was just the latest blow to what has been for several years one of the finest offensive lines in the NFL. Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf retired just before training camp and John Welbourn, last year’s starting tackle, is only now getting back after a six-week suspension. Welbourn saw his first action of the season Sunday, playing some at left tackle and some at right, and was beaten twice by Leonard Little for sacks.

The victory was the third straight for the Chiefs (5-3) and kept them one game behind Denver and San Diego in the AFC West. But it was costly. Also leaving were starting defensive end Tamba Hali, linebacker Derrick Johnson and safety Greg Wesley. Keyaron Fox, Johnson’s replacement, also had to leave the game because of cramps.

“Derrick Johnson has an ankle. He’s questionable,” Edwards said late Monday afternoon. “Greg Wesley is having an MRI right now so I’m not sure about him, but I think he’s questionable. Tamba will be probable.”

Kansas City Chiefs guard Brian Waters is taken off the field with an inflatable cast on his right leg after being injured against the St. Louis Cardinals. Waters suffered the injury Sunday during the Chiefs' 31-17 victory.

Running back Priest Holmes, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since before training camp with head and neck trauma, was scheduled to see a neurosurgeon last week. But Edwards said he did not know what Holmes’ status might be.

The beat-up line is certain to have coaches burning the midnight oil as they prepare for Sunday’s trip to the Miami Dolphins. Because of injuries, Kyle Turley started at right tackle Sunday. It was his first start since an old back injury flared up several weeks ago and benched him from the left tackle spot where he had been the starter.

“Bober played OK in Waters’ spot yesterday. We’ve got some things we can do there,” Edwards said. “Welbourn can play there if we need him to. We’ll have a staff meeting to talk about some of these things.”

Waters’ loss comes just as the Chiefs seem to have found a nice offensive rhythm. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, complementing each other, have had huge games three weeks in a row.

Johnson ran for 172 yards and a touchdown and Gonzalez caught two touchdown passes and became the Chiefs’ career leader with 59 scoring catches.

Also, Damon Huard again made some fans wonder if it might not be a good idea to keep him as the starter even when injured Trent Green comes back – possibly against Oakland in two weeks.

“We’ve played pretty well. We’ve done some good things,” Edwards said. “What I’d like to see us do is become more consistent. We’ve had some games obviously where we’ve given up some good plays, but we’ve played against some pretty good offenses, too, and that has a lot to do with it.”