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]
Originally Posted by UChieffyBugger:
"Cleared" by who? The man has an injury that John Wall just had his season ended by. The notion that he is "deciding" not to play is just pathetic and it's spewed by the same idiots who don't give a damn about Eric's health. In order to play Berry most likely has to endure a lot of pain. The fact that folks don't care about that and just want to be "entertained" just sums up this country and many NFL fans tbh.
Whether he plays or not has been in his hands. That is the difference. [Reply]
Take it for what its worth but I asked Nate Taylor in a QA today if the Berry situation was causing any locker room issues.
His response -
Originally Posted by :
I don't believe so. Guys love Eric Berry and it's easy to see why given his history with the franchise. The Chiefs played 14 of 16 games this season without Berry, so they'll try to win tomorrow's game in part to get Berry on the field for the AFC Championship Game
Heh even I have a hard time believing if they win Berry plays next week. Hell I doubt he could go in the SB at this point. [Reply]
To do what? An interpretive dance in his sweat suit?
Gee, wouldn't it be so magical if the Chiefs went to a Super Bowl and Berry suited up and came in for one play so that he could say he played in the Super Bowl? That would just be so special and make me cry.
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
Take it for what its worth but I asked Nate Taylor in a QA today if the Berry situation was causing any locker room issues.
His response -
Heh even I have a hard time believing if they win Berry plays next week. Hell I doubt he could go in the SB at this point.
Eric Berry’s hometown is Atlanta, where the Super Bowl is being played.
I’d put $500 on the table now that he starts that game if we make it. [Reply]
Seriously. I mean, very seriously. (And I know this won't be particularly popular ... but here's my post-thing.)
Some of you guys are reminding me of an old ladies club bitching about a ne'er-do-well son. I suppose some Planeteers are merely trying to troll or stand out among the crowd as a "tougher than a desert whore" type of individual. But, honestly, it is beginning to sound like post-menopausal opprobrium. (Well actually, it's sounded that way for awhile.)
When discussing the Chiefs and the Great Game, I draw the line when keyboard warriors start to sound like acrimonious, dried-up c.u.n.ts. Get a grip on yourselves. You know who you are.
Originally Posted by FAX:
Seriously. I mean, very seriously. (And I know this won't be particularly popular ... but here's my post-thing.)
Some of you guys are reminding me of an old ladies club bitching about a ne'er-do-well son. I suppose some Planeteers are merely trying to troll or stand out among the crowd as a "tougher than a desert whore" type of individual. But, honestly, it is beginning to sound like post-menopausal opprobrium. (Well actually, it's sounded that way for awhile.)
When discussing the Chiefs and the Great Game, I draw the line when keyboard warriors start to sound like acrimonious, dried-up c.u.n.ts. Get a grip on yourselves. You know who you are.
FAX
Bitching about the past is tiresome and pointless.
There are two eras in Chiefs history. Well, three. Dawson, post-Dawson, and Mahomes. Mahomes will do for KC what Belicheat/Brady did for NE. Who cares what happened last year or 20 years ago. [Reply]
Reminds me of that episode of 'King of the Hill' where the high school kid comes up 1 yard short of breaking the school rushing record because he broke a leg in a game, so the team suits him up on a Friday night and walks him across the goal line as the opposing team just makes a nice path for him to walk right on in. [Reply]
Originally Posted by FAX:
Seriously. I mean, very seriously. (And I know this won't be particularly popular ... but here's my post-thing.)
Some of you guys are reminding me of an old ladies club bitching about a ne'er-do-well son. I suppose some Planeteers are merely trying to troll or stand out among the crowd as a "tougher than a desert whore" type of individual. But, honestly, it is beginning to sound like post-menopausal opprobrium. (Well actually, it's sounded that way for awhile.)
When discussing the Chiefs and the Great Game, I draw the line when keyboard warriors start to sound like acrimonious, dried-up c.u.n.ts. Get a grip on yourselves. You know who you are.
Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate:
To do what? An interpretive dance in his sweat suit?
Gee, wouldn't it be so magical if the Chiefs went to a Super Bowl and Berry suited up and came in for one play so that he could say he played in the Super Bowl? That would just be so special and make me cry.
Originally Posted by FAX:
Seriously. I mean, very seriously. (And I know this won't be particularly popular ... but here's my post-thing.)
Some of you guys are reminding me of an old ladies club bitching about a ne'er-do-well son. I suppose some Planeteers are merely trying to troll or stand out among the crowd as a "tougher than a desert whore" type of individual. But, honestly, it is beginning to sound like post-menopausal opprobrium. (Well actually, it's sounded that way for awhile.)
When discussing the Chiefs and the Great Game, I draw the line when keyboard warriors start to sound like acrimonious, dried-up c.u.n.ts. Get a grip on yourselves. You know who you are.
FAX
I get what you're saying but it's not like we have a top 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 defense so that problem is magnified with Berry sitting it out because he has pain. Our defense has been a dumpster fire all year EXCEPT when we play at home. Ya that's what i'm holding onto from this point forward. [Reply]
Berry is a liability on the field at this point. If he is on an island defending or trying to tackle a player and his heel, Achilles, Haglunds, confidence or spirit fail we’re fucked. Make him buy a ticket and sit in the stands if he wants to Super Bowl. [Reply]
Originally Posted by FAX:
Seriously. I mean, very seriously. (And I know this won't be particularly popular ... but here's my post-thing.)
Some of you guys are reminding me of an old ladies club bitching about a ne'er-do-well son. I suppose some Planeteers are merely trying to troll or stand out among the crowd as a "tougher than a desert whore" type of individual. But, honestly, it is beginning to sound like post-menopausal opprobrium. (Well actually, it's sounded that way for awhile.)
When discussing the Chiefs and the Great Game, I draw the line when keyboard warriors start to sound like acrimonious, dried-up c.u.n.ts. Get a grip on yourselves. You know who you are.
FAX
Then go on IR and make way for someone who can play during a post season run.
