Chiefs' Jeremy Maclin avoids ACL tear

The Kansas City Chiefs have received a boost after an MRI scan showed that wide receiver Jeremy Maclin did not tear the ACL in his right knee against the Houston Texans, but rather suffered a high ankle sprain.

Maclin, a seven-year pro, was injured on the same play as Texans star J.J. Watt in the third quarter of Saturday's wild-card play-off game in Houston, which the Chiefs won 30-0.

After catching a seven-yard pass from Alex Smith, Maclin's knee buckled as he was brought down by Brian Cushing and Whitney Mercilus. Maclin, who missed the entire 2013 season with a torn ACL, was in tears on the sideline fearing his third ACL tear since 2009.

Kansas City coach Andy Reid said that Maclin had more pain in the ankle area that the knee, giving hope to Chiefs fans who have not seen their team lose since October 18 and on Sunday the team announced he had avoided the more serious injury and his recovery was "day-to-day".

While Maclin, 27, has not suffered the dreaded ACL tear, a high-ankle sprain will likely keep him out of the Chiefs' divisional-round playoff game at New England (12-4) on Saturday. It will be the teams' first meeting since Week four of the 2014 season, when the Chiefs beat up on Tom Brady and the Patriots in a 41-14 victory.