Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry is not practicing Wednesday, the second day of work as the team prepares to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon in the AFC’s divisional round.
Berry missed practice on Friday, December 28, before he was eventually held out of the Chiefs’ final game of the season against the Oakland Raiders. Berry practiced limitedly to start this week on Tuesday, which many felt was a good sign, but he could not participate on Wednesday as he deals with his lingering heel injury.
“It’s difficult from the standpoint of he’s a real critical part of our team,” defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said when asked about the uncertainty surrounding the three-time All-Pro. “He’s an outstanding player. He’s one of our true leaders, the guys rally around him, so I think that part is always hard. You get caught up in different things in the season. But also, if you stick back for a second, you say, ‘Man, this is really hard on this guy, too, as a player. This is something he loves to do. He’s been really good at it, and as difficult as it is on us as a defensive unit or us as a team, I think for him, it’s really challenging.’
“So it’s just what it is. There’s not a lot you can do about it, and every week we’ve got our fingers crossed and hope that he can make it back and go. It’s truly—I know you guys get tired of hearing this—it really is a day to day to day thing here right now, the way it’s playing out. You just got to stay in there and go and figure out how to get other guys ready in case he can’t go.”
Berry was originally held out of the Chiefs’ first 13 games with what the team described as a sore heel, though reports, which have never been confirmed (nor denied) said Berry has what is called a “Haglund’s deformity.”
Berry eventually returned to the lineup to play 30 snaps Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers and played 69 snaps Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks before what has appeared to be some sort of setback.
Sutton was asked Wednesday about who would replace Berry and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel, who hasn’t practiced at all this week, if they couldn’t play against the Colts.
Without Berry in a must-win game against the Raiders when it came to playoff home-field advantage, the safety snap count breakdown was as follows: Daniel Sorensen (63), Eric Murray (33), Jordan Lucas (32) and Ron Parker (6).
In the above breakdown, it is important to note that Sorensen and Lucas earned the start. Lucas suffered a stinger, and the Chiefs eventually removed starters in a 35-3 blowout.
It remains to be seen who the Chiefs start against the Colts if Berry cannot play once again.
A note on Dorian O’Daniel
#Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub on LB Dorian O’Daniel, who has missed two practices this week: “He’s a four-phase starter for us. He’s an important guy, so we’re keeping an eye on that one, pretty close.”
“I wouldn’t tell you,” he initially said with a smile. “We have to work guys in, obviously, and just see where guys are. The one good thing is you’re at the point of the season where if you do have to miss some reps and you get better toward to the end of the week, this is probably the time to do it. We just have to kind of roll guys through, which we try to do, anyway, but when you have a guy in question, you have to say, ‘OK,’ because that usually affects somebody else.
“Sometimes that affects special teams ... It’s going to affect Dave (Toub) and what he’s putting together, so you got to kind of stay on top of that as a total staff, too. But we just got to slide and we’ve got some different options, but we kind of have to wait and see where it’s at.” [Reply]
I don't understand all the hatred towards him, any one of us that had been through what he has would be questioning whether continuing to play through pain and likely further injuries was worth it. He may only be trying to prolong the inevitable because he's being paid all that money. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Surgery should have been done a year ago while he was rehabbing the other foot. The heel issues are not new to Berry in 2018. He should have had repairs done to both feet. As I mentioned before, Troy Tulowitzki had repairs done on both feet, so don't tell me it's not possible to repair both at the same time.
Its completely speculation that his sore heal caused the achilles tear in the other foot. But let's assume for a minute you are correct, you really think they just ignored it? Seriously? They are paying the guy $13MM a year and they decided to just ignore it? Thats laughable.
You act like your dumb ass that works at Dunkin Donuts or whatever has some insight that actual medical professionals don't have.
The only benefit you have over the team and the medical staff is hindsight. [Reply]
I like Eric Berry. I love Eric Berry. I think he’d be a clear HOF safety if not for these injuries. The guy is a warrior.
He’s clearly injured. We can all speculate to the extent of it. We can all speculate what procedures he should’ve had and when and whose decision that ultimately was. We. Know. Nothing.
It’s unfortunate. We’re all disappointed. There’s no doubt in my mind the guy wants to play and be there - his whole life has been football and his NFL career of the last two seasons has in part been that of a Chiefs cheerleader. Hence he’s still on the sidelines and the defensive players still show appropriate deference.
It’s unfortunate. I hope he can go this weekend. I’ll be disappointed if it’s not possible. Very frustrated. But we move on, folks. [Reply]
Best case scenario, KC makes it to the Superbowl and then FINALLY has surgery to repair the haglunds deformity. It should only sideline him 6-8 months. However if you take into account previous injuries KC has had to deal with. I wouldn't be surprised if he misses more time next year.
So we'd be 3 years into a contract with him playing what, 2 full games maybe? :-)
Just want to let it be known, I'm not really blaming Berry. Just the entire situation seems fitting as a Chiefs fan. [Reply]
HaHa Clinton-Dix and Golden Tate should be Chiefs right now.
They would have helped make up for the injuries to Berry and Watkins. They could have made the difference in going to the Super Bowl. Once again we weren't aggressive enough.
Too negative again, sorry.
Go CHIEFS!!! Super Bowl bound!! Mahomes is God!!! [Reply]
Originally Posted by JakeF:
HaHa Clinton-Dix and Golden Tate should be Chiefs right now.
They would have helped make up for the injuries to Berry and Watkins. They could have made the difference in going to the Super Bowl. Once again we weren't aggressive enough.
Too negative again, sorry.
Go CHIEFS!!! Super Bowl bound!! Mahomes is God!!!
In what bizarro world was this team trading for Golden Tate? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
Its completely speculation that his sore heal caused the achilles tear in the other foot. But let's assume for a minute you are correct, you really think they just ignored it? Seriously? They are paying the guy $13MM a year and they decided to just ignore it? Thats laughable.
You act like your dumb ass that works at Dunkin Donuts or whatever has some insight that actual medical professionals don't have.
The only benefit you have over the team and the medical staff is hindsight.
I never said the sore heel caused the Achilles tear in the other foot. In all likelihood he probably had issues with both heels, possibly Haglund in both. It's almost impossible that his heel pain in this foot isn't the same issue from a year ago. Either he or the team decided rehabbing it was the best course of action. Clearly they were wrong.
Dunkin Donuts? At least give me some credit. I'm an accountant. It's not a glamorous job, but it pays the bills. [Reply]
Originally Posted by JakeF:
HaHa Clinton-Dix and Golden Tate should be Chiefs right now.
They would have helped make up for the injuries to Berry and Watkins. They could have made the difference in going to the Super Bowl. Once again we weren't aggressive enough.
Too negative again, sorry.
Go CHIEFS!!! Super Bowl bound!! Mahomes is God!!!
God, you’re dumb. Clinton-Dix? Sure. Tate? Even if you were playing Madden, that would be stupid. This isn’t negative so much as ridiculous. [Reply]
