Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe will miss the beginning of training camp and the start of the season is in doubt.
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters Tuesday that Poe underwent surgery on a herniated disc in his back on July 15. Poe is out indefinitely.
"I think he stands a reasonable chance (to return) the early part of the season," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, via Arrowheadpride.com, "whether it's the beginning or somewhere early in the season for his return. You just have to see how things recover."
Poe suffered a back injury during minicamp and reinjured it prior to undergoing surgery.
Jaye Howard will replace Poe in the lineup, Reid said.
The loss of Poe is huge for a Chiefs defensive front that struggled to stop the run last season, finishing 28th in the NFL.
Poe compiled a career-high six sacks in 2014 and his game film displayed vast improvements after a slow start to his career.
The Chiefs exercised his fifth-year option in the offseason, keeping him with the team through the 2016 season. How much of the 2015 year he'll see remains to be seen.
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