Another practice went by on Tuesday with Brandon Flowers still sidelined with bruised heel that has kept him out since July 31.

What happened last Friday against Seattle -- rookie Russell Wilson carving up the secondary for 185 passing yards and two TDs -- is reason enough to worry about Kansas City's secondary. Even more reason to worry is that the man who is now filling in for Flowers has not been in the league since 2009.

CB Jacques Reeves, who will start Thursday against Green Bay, does have an explanation for why he's sat out the last two seasons. Reeves told the Kansas City Star that he sat out to take care of his ill mother, who underwent a liver and kidney transplant last September.

"I'm her only son, and I felt like she needed me there more than I needed to be playing football," Reeves said. "I had to take care of her, and that came first."

Reeves' mother died on July 26, the day before the beginning of training camp, and Reeves missed the first week of camp. He has worked his way to third on the depth chart at the left corner spot behind Flowers and second-year CB Jalil Brown, who is sidelined with a groin injury.

Reeves said that he stayed in shape during his two years away from the game because he always had the intention of returning at some point. His final three seasons in the league suggest that he can be a contributor.

In 2007, Reeves started 13 games for the Cowyboys and had 52 tackles and an interception. His best season was in 2008 when he started all 16 games for the Texans and had four interceptions. In 2009, Reeves fractured his fibula in the preseason and played in 12 games, making five starts for the Texans.

"I didn't come back to be a backup," he told the Star. "I came back to try and help this team win in any way that I can. With all the injuries, my opportunity came pretty quick."

The injuries should at least allow Reeves to make the roster, and if Flowers or Brown are not ready for the Sept. 9 opener against Atlanta, Reeves could start.

Coach Romeo Crennel has not ruled out Flowers or Brown to play against Atlanta. The Kansas City Star reported that Flowers did some light jogging, cutting and backpedaling off to the side during Tuesday's practice.

Crennel keeping Hali on starter's schedule: Crennel said on Tuesday that OLB Tamba Hali would start against Green Bay and play the same amount of time as the starters. Hali is suspended for the Sept. 9 opener for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. 

"He wants to play football, so we will let him play," Crennel said. "Because he is a starter, I don't think you want to expose him more than you want to expose your other starters. We'll deal with his circumstance next week."

One player who could work his way into playing time because of Hali's absence is Edgar Jones, who signed with Kansas City as an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore after training camp started. 

"He's picking up things pretty nicely," Crennel said. "He works hard at practice, so I don’t think taking Tamba out will increase Jones' effectiveness that much more. We've got that group, and they all work well together. When Tamba is not here, those other guys will have to step up."

Follow Chiefs reporter C.J. Moore on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLKC and @cjmoore4.