Chiefs safety Eric Berry cleared to return to practice
Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been cleared to practice on Wednesday, the team announced. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in December.
Berry, 26, has played in four NFL seasons since the Chiefs selected him with the fifth pick in the 2010 NFL draft. After a Nov. 20 game against the Oakland Raiders, Berry reported feeling pains in his chest. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, one of two common types of lymphatic-system cancers.
In late May, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Berry completed his treatments and was waiting for doctors’ clearance to return to the field. Kansas City said Wednesday that Berry was diagnosed as cancer free on June 22 and has been training with tight end Travis Kelce in Florida.
• The MMQB: Eric Berry will ‘be back strong’
“[Berry's] thought was I'm going to conquer this thing and play,” Reid toldthe media on Wednesday. “He's had incredible support from the team.”
A three-time Pro Bowl selection and 2013 first-team All-Pro, Berry has recorded 289 career tackles, 5.5 sacks, eight interceptions and 31 passes defended.
• Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe has back surgery
In his six games last season, he recorded 37 tackles and defended two passes.
- Mike Fiammetta
