The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to get the leader of their defense back on Thursday night, but he may not be on the field for all or even most of their big game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Berry will be on a “pitch count.”
#Chiefs S Eric Berry, who will get one of the loudest ovations we’ve heard at Arrowhead Stadium tonight, is going to start and be on a pitch count, I’m told. He’ll take it slow — not having played since Week 1 of 2017 — but KC’s leader on D is back from Achilles & heel injuries.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 13, 2018
Berry has had a very long road back from Achilles and heel injuries, so it makes sense that the Chiefs don’t want to risk him suffering some sort of setback. The former No. 5 overall pick signed a six-year, $78 million contract last year, which shows you that the team expects him to be one of its core players for years to come.
Kansas City has dealt with a number of injuries lately, and their defense ranks 30th in the NFL with 409.6 yards allowed per game. They’re dead last in passing defense with an average 282.1 yards allowed, so it goes without saying that they have missed Berry. If the All-Pro safety is healthy down the stretch, he should be a huge difference maker for the favorite in the AFC.
