The Chiefs on Tuesday started the three-week clock on Holmes and defensive back William Bartee, who began the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

The Chiefs have until 3 p.m. Nov. 28 to designate the players’ statuses for the regular season. They could retain the players on the physically-unable-to-perform list, activate them or waive them. Neither player has to participate in a practice to be activated by Nov. 28, said Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson.

Holmes, 33, has been inactive since suffering head and neck trauma against San Diego on Oct. 30, 2005. He did not participate in training camp and has remained at his home in San Antonio this season. He has undergone examinations by medical specialists in the hopes of being activated before the end of this season.

“I mentioned at the beginning of the season we were going to keep this window open as long as possible,” said Peterson. “If we can keep this window open through 12 weeks, we’re benefited by that.”