Kansas City, Mo. ? Chiefs general manager John Dorsey expects Pro Bowl pass rusher Justin Houston to play this season, even though surgery to repair his torn ACL could take up to 12 months of recovery time.

Dorsey made the prediction during a news conference Friday to discuss the NFL Draft.

Houston hurt his left knee during a game against Buffalo midway through last season, and at the time it was thought to be a hyperextension. He returned to play sparingly in the playoffs, and an arthroscopic procedure after the season revealed his ligament was not functioning properly.