Jeremy Maclin Injury: Updates on Chiefs WR's Ankle and Return

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin exited the AFC Wild Card Round win against the Houston Texans with a high ankle sprain. He's ready to return for the divisional-round matchup with the New England Patriots on Saturday.

Continue for updates.

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Maclin Active vs. Patriots

Saturday, Jan. 16

The Chiefs announced Maclin is playing in Saturday's game, according to Field Yates of ESPN. 

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Reid Comments on Maclin's Playing Status

Thursday, Jan. 14

Head coach Andy Reid said Maclin did not practice Thursday and that he'd be a game-time decision on Saturday, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. 

On Jan. 12, Reid said he would "be comfortable playing [Maclin] even without practice all week," via Pete Sweeney of Chiefs.com, but he noted that Maclin "may not have to do that."

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Maclin Vital to Chiefs Offense

The Chiefs famously went the entire 2014 season without one of their wide receivers catching a touchdown pass. As a result, they signed Maclin for five years and $55 million in the offseason.

His numbers dipped from the previous year, but he led Kansas City with 87 receptions for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns. More importantly, he broke the Chiefs' wide receiver touchdown drought in their Week 3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller offered this assessment of Maclin's 2015 performance:

Pro Football Focus provided the raw data:

With Jamaal Charles out for the year, the Chiefs can ill afford to lose Maclin during the playoffs. They aren't a pass-heavy team, but they need somebody like Maclin to keep opposing secondaries on their toes.