KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston says hes ready to dominate.It will coach Andy Reids call whether he has the chance.The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher returned to the practice field Thursday with the hopes of making his season debut Sunday at Carolina. Houston was removed from the physically unable to perform list a day earlier but has not played in a game since having surgery to repair his left ACL in February.Feel good. Ready to get back out there with my guys, said Houston, who was voted to the Pro Bowl last season despite missing five games with the bothersome knee. Been grinding, working with the guys. It is just fun to be back out there with them.Houston hurt his knee midway through last season, and at the time the Chiefs believed it had merely been a hyperextension. He rested it in the hopes that it would heal naturally, and played in a playoff win over the Texans. But it was during that game that he said he tweaked it again, and he hardly made it onto the field in a loss to the Patriots that ended the Chiefs season.Houston had the knee examined a few weeks later, and noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews discovered that his ACL was not functioning properly. It was repaired in February and rehab quickly began.I was concerned. I knew I couldnt move the way I wanted to and how I was capable of, Houston said. When it happened, the coaches, nobody made me go out there. I wanted to be out there with my team. Any chance to be out there with my team, especially the playoffs, I wanted that chance.The Chiefs were roundly criticized for their treatment of the injury. Many believe it should have been diagnosed and repaired last season, when the knee trouble began, and that could have allowed Houston to recover sooner and be ready for this season.Instead, the procedure wound up costing him the first eight games and the bye week this season, to go with the games he missed last season while hoping it would heal.Its the playoffs, Houston said, when asked whether he regretted trying to play through it. If we werent going to the playoffs, thats a different story, but guys play their whole careers and dont get to the playoffs. I wouldnt turn down the chance to be there with my guys.I felt like during that time I did everything in my power to get ready to play.The Chiefs (6-2) have survived without Houston in large part due to the emergence of Dee Ford, who already has nine sacks this season. But with little production from Tamba Hali and the rest of the Kansas City linebackers, Ford was poised to see more double teams and a tougher pass to the quarterback.In that respect, Houstons return to the field couldnt come soon enough.Hes played a lot of football. I dont think it will take him long (to get up to speed), Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. Im sure theres a period where hell say, `I can process that quicker. That will be the biggest thing. He knows the system, so its not a knowledge deal.Its just reactions, Sutton said, seeing things fast as you want to see them.Sutton isnt sure whether Reid will give the green-light for Houston to play Sunday, nor was he willing to guess how many snaps Houston will play once he does make it onto the field.I think you just have to see. I dont think he knows, we know for sure until he gets out there, Sutton said. Games are different than practice. Its faster, the tempo is up. I think when he gets out there hes going to say `Hey, Im golden, ready to roll, no holds-barred, or, `Hey, I need a little break here. I dont think theres a guarantee on any of those.Game notesHali returned to practice after getting his normal Wednesday off. ... DE Jaye Howard (hip) and WR Jeremy Maclin (groin) remained out of practice Thursday. It is unclear whether either of them will be available against the Panthers.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLJohnny Unitas Youth Jersey . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Darius Leonard Youth Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro.com/Parris-campbell-colts-jersey/ . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Marvin Harrison Youth Jersey . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. Rock Ya-Sin Colts Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker.DETROIT -- Jarrod Saltalamacchias drive was so high in the air, it was fair to doubt whether it had the right trajectory to clear the wall in right-center field.I saw the outfielders kind of meeting right at that little Bermuda Triangle out there, so I got a little scared, Saltalamacchia said. When I didnt see them catch it, I was definitely happy.Saltalamacchias two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.Justin Upton also went deep for the Tigers, who pulled within a game of Baltimore for the American Leagues second wild card.Detroit trailed 3-2 after a solo homer in the seventh by Chicagos Tyler Saladino, but Saltalamacchias towering drive off Nate Jones (5-3) put the Tigers ahead.It was Saltalamacchias 12th homer of the season.For a backup catcher, hes had some production, manager Brad Ausmus said. Hes contributed to the offense quite a bit.Justin Wilson (4-4) got the win in relief, and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his 37th save in 40 chances.Saladino drove in all three Chicago runs. James Shields allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, ending an awful August on a decent note, but the White Sox couldnt hold a one-run lead for him.The first couple innings I was a little erratic, but I thought I settled down and was able to pound the strike zone, Shields said. Ive really done that in my last few starts, but tonight I think I had more luck.Shields was 0-4 with a 13.95 ERA in five August starts coming into Mondays game, but the Tigers didnt do much against him. Miguel Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly in the third, but Saladinos two-run single put the White Sox ahead the following inning.Upton tied it in the sixth with a solo hhome run.dddddddddddd Saladino led off the seventh with his eighth homer of the season.Chicago used three relievers to get through the seventh, and Jones came on in the eighth. He walked Martinez, and Saltalamacchia went deep one out later.You just have to tip your hat because Nate has been as consistent as anyone out there, Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. Saltys gotten us a few times before.Detroit starter Matt Boyd allowed two runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.MILESTONESRodriguez earned his 423rd save, moving one ahead of Billy Wagner for fifth on the career list. Cabreras third-inning RBI gave him 1,003 with the Tigers, tying Alan Trammell for 10th in team history.STREAKChicagos Jose Abreu had a single and a double and has reached base in 25 consecutive games.ROTATIONAusmus said before the game rookie RHP Michael Fulmer would likely start Saturday at Kansas City. That would give Fulmer six days rest between starts as Detroit tries to manage his workload.TRAINERS ROOMWhite Sox: CF Adam Eaton was in the lineup after leaving Sundays game because of a bruised forearm. He went 0 for 4 with a walk.Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (lower back strain) allowed a run and three hits in three innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo at Indianapolis. He struck out two. ... CF Cameron Maybin left in the fifth with a bruised left thumb.UP NEXTWhite Sox: RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-1) starts Tuesday night against the Tigers. He allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in his most recent start, Thursday against Seattle.Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (2-2) takes the mound. He allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings Thursday at Minnesota.e allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in his most] ' ' '