It's the news that Kansas City Chiefs fans have been wanting to know for some time, and while it's not a definitive date of return for veteran linebacker Justin Houston, the update given to the media on Wednesday is still good and what fans wanted to hear right now.

Back in August, Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Houston was being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list and would be going to see renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who performed Houston's surgery last February, during the team's bye week and that we'd have a more detailed update at that point.

Now, coming off the bye week, Burkholder provided that update on Wednesday.

"[Houston] saw Dr. Andrews on Monday, October 3, right after the game against Pittsburgh," Burkholder explained. "He has been cleared to progress with football-type activity."

It's important to note that football-type activity doesn't mean Houston is practicing right now. In fact, Houston can't practice yet because he's still on the PUP list.

By NFL rule, the earliest Houston could return from the PUP list is the sixth calendar day prior to the team's seventh regular season game (or sixth if they had their bye), which would make this coming Tuesday, October 18.

"We're giving [Houston] simulated football activity in his rehab, which is all part of the progression," Burkholder added. "We'll make a decision as this week comes to a close when we would take him off that PUP list and put him into practice.

"There's a lot that goes into that with myself, coach (Andy) Reid and (general manager) John (Dorsey), so that's where we are at, but he's been cleared to do football-type activity right now."

With next Tuesday being the earliest Houston could return, the latest would be Tuesday, November 22, which would be the last day he could start his 21-day practice period.

If he started practice at that point, he would need to be activated by Tuesday, December 13 at 4pm EST at the latest.

In his five-year career, Houston has accumulated 56 sacks, 264 tackles, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions. He was originally drafted in the third round (No. 70 overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia.

In what proved to be one of the most dominant seasons for a pass rusher in NFL history, Houston finished the 2014 season with 22 sacks, which broke the franchise record and is second best in the history of the league.

"He's in pretty good shape," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid explained right now of Houston, who has been around the facility going through his rehab. "He's running around and doing a lot of things.

"It's going to be a day-by-day thing. Everybody's different."

When asked how quickly he might be able to return, Reid said there's not a definitive date right now.

"You want to make sure he can get out of his own way and do the things that he needs to do, obviously," Reid added. "That, you have to see firsthand. We can talk about it and do all that, but until they can get out there and move around in practice, you have no idea really. 

"I presume he will be able to do most things (whenever he returns), but we have to see how he looks."

Whenever he does return, whether it's next week or sometime in the coming weeks, Houston's teammates will welcome him back on the field with open arms.

"I know as a defensive lineman, it's going to help us out a lot," Jaye Howard explained of Houston's eventual return. "It'll take some of the pressure off us and allow us to get some one-on-one blocks, which we haven't seen all season. I'm ready to get him back out there.

"We're going to be scary."