NFL teams
Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Chiefs' Eric Fisher indicates he never asked out of Sunday's lineup

NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans

HOUSTON -- Eric Fisher did not start Sunday's game at right tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs and indicated the decision was not his and that he never asked not to play.

The Chiefs instead started the recently signed Jah Reid at right tackle in their 27-20 win over the Houston Texans. Fisher had missed the final three preseason games because of a sprained ankle but returned to practice and was a full participant in all of last week's sessions.

"They just said the medicals weren't ready yet and that I was a backup, emergency player," Fisher said. "It was completely their decision."

Coach Andy Reid said he realized from watching practice Fisher was having a problem with the ankle.

"It just looked like it," he said. "I got to the point where it wasn't getting better. So from that point, I had to make a decision and there was no time. We are talking Friday, right? I looked at the tape on Thursday ... and it wasn't right. He was trying to push through, but he was having a hard time getting his hips through and ... so I said, 'Hey, listen, we can't put him in a position like that.' So we went with Jah."

The Houston Chronicle reported before the game that Fisher had asked out of the lineup. That report prompted this tweet from former Chiefs defensive lineman Shaun Smith, who accused Fisher of being "scared" of Houston defensive end J.J. Watt.

Smith clarified in an email to ESPN's Bob Holtzman that he has never met Fisher but said he stands by his opinion.

"It's my opinion and I played with guys that be scared of a challenge in the locker room we call them Jag= just another guy," he wrote in the email.

Fisher was in uniform for Sunday's game. The Chiefs were down to seven linemen, including Fisher, because Jeff Allen was inactive with a knee injury.

Fisher was listed as questionable to play in Sunday's game on the Chiefs' final injury report of the week.

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