Chiefs’ Eric Berry returns to practice Wednesday, ending 109-day absence
For the first time in 109 days, Eric Berry tugged on his helmet and trotted out to practice alongside his Chiefs teammates on Wednesday afternoon.
Berry, the 29-year-old safety battling ongoing heel soreness, has been at practice plenty of times in the last three months, stretching and coaching up his teammates from the sideline. But Wednesday marked the first time since training camp that he actually participated, albeit on a limited basis.
“It’s good to see him getting back healthy,” coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “One thing you know about EB, this is killing him to watch. I mean, he loves to play. And so, it tears him up not to be out there. At the same time, we’ve got to do what’s smart and make sure when those juices get going that everything’s OK in the long haul.”
Though Reid praised Berry’s transparency and communication throughout the process, not much is known publicly of Berry’s specific rehabilitation. Reid and Chiefs athletic trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters in September that Berry was “literally day-to-day” and most weekly updates about Berry included promises that he was “improving.”
Patrick Mahomes, though, had a front-row seat for some of Berry’s road back to practice. With his locker across from Berry’s at the Chiefs’ practice facility, the quarterback watched as the veteran safety worked through solo exercises in front of his locker from time to time.
“We talk almost every single day,” Mahomes said. “He’ll just be in the locker room sometimes doing ab workouts. He’s itching to get back on the field.”
Berry was sidelined for nearly all of the 2017 season after tearing his Achilles in the season opener against New England. And his debut this season has been delayed by a sore heel on the other foot that first popped up during training camp in St. Joseph. Berry last played a full season in 2016, logging 77 tackles, four interceptions and two touchdowns.
While Berry is back at practice, there’s no concrete timetable set for his return to game action.
“We just want to get him out there and see how he does,” Reid said when asked if Berry would play Sunday in Oakland. “I wouldn’t tell you one way or the other. I can’t tell you that. But I think he’s as curious as we are to see how he feels. So we’re going to go easy with it. He and I will talk and we’ll talk with the docs and the trainers and we’re not forcing him back this week, next week, whenever. We don’t care about that. Just make sure he’s healthy.”
For the Chiefs, Berry’s return is about more than the physicality and speed he brings to the defense. It’s also about the heart and the emotion that he plays with and uses to lead the rest of the team. To this point, he’s done most of that from the sideline as a de facto coach.
“He’s getting a jump start on a second career,” Reid said. “He’s done a nice job jumping in and coaching and the guys listen to him. He’s smart, obviously, we all know that. He’s been there and done it and so the guys respect him for that. He’s been out at every practice. He’s gone to every game. He’s just quietly had some nice little coaching points in there.”
Though he’s been inactive in every game this season, he’s still been a fixture in the pregame huddle, delivering fiery speeches to the team gathered around him.
“He’s able to kind of get the team going,” right tackle Mitchell Schwartz said. “And he just brings that energy, that charisma that you can’t teach, you can’t force that. There’s nothing, either a guy’s got it or he doesn’t. He’s one of those guys that has it.”
Getting Berry to practice is a significant milestone, but there are more important ones up ahead — like actually having him play in a game.
The Chiefs will take on the Raiders in Oakland this weekend before returning home for two games against the Ravens and the Chargers, one played four days after the next.
Once cleared to play in games, Berry is expected to take over for Eric Murray and play alongside Ron Parker, recreating the tandem that played together for nearly four seasons. But Berry will also have to adjust to playing with new players like Orlando Scandrick, Kendall Fuller and Jordan Lucas.
Reid, though, isn’t worried about Berry fitting into the lineup and resuming his status as a leader of the secondary.
“When he’s in there, he’s very loud,” Reid said. “He and Ron have done that together. They’re not afraid to talk and communicate and make it loud. He’s not going to be wishy-washy on his calls. If he puts a call on, you’re going to know it. I think they’ll be OK that way. He’s seen a lot over the years. So I don’t think that’ll be too much of an issue. Let’s just see how it goes. Let’s see if we’re even at that point right now.”
Brooke Pryor
Brooke Pryor covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.
This story was originally published November 28, 2018 at 12:04 PM.