Kansas City Chiefs Injury Report: Eric Kush Is Team’s Only ‘Did Not Practice’

December 15, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) celebrates after an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The first injury report of the season is out and things are the surface look pretty good for the Chiefs heading into week one. With the exception of two players, everyone is in good shape after Wednesday’s practice. Here is the official report along with a few thoughts.

NAMES OF NOTE

The preseason ended with four notable injuries: Joe Mays’ torn ligaments in his wrists, Tamba Hali’s swollen knee, Eric Berry’s heel, and Mike DeVito’s broken hand. For the most part we didn’t what to expect from all of those players coming into this week even though the team seemed pretty positive on Hali, Berry, and DeVito. We have our answer after today.

Mays is on injured-reserve with a designation to return after six weeks (or the Chiefs first five games). After that he’ll be reevaluated and the Chiefs will make a decision on what to do with him.

Everyone else was a participant in practice today. Hali, Berry, and DeVito all practiced, and the reports coming from Arrowhead seem positive. DeVito, who missed most of the preseason with a broken hand, said he would not be wearing a cast Sunday when he returns back to action. This would seem to suggest his hand is either fully healed or DeVito is insane. (Noted that it could be both.)

DeVito’s return should help the Chiefs against the run, an area where the team struggled during the preseason. In their base formation with DeVito, the Chiefs should be in good shape with Dontari Poe, Derrick Johnson, and Josh Mauga up the middle, and DeVito and Allen Bailey flanking on the defensive line. That core should equal some positive things for the Chiefs whenever Bishop Sankey is handed the ball.

Berry’s return should do a lot of good things for the secondary as well. ‘The quarterback of the secondary’ as it were will be back for the Chiefs which should help add some stability to a back end that was very leaky at times. Simply upgrading from Daniel Sorensen to Berry is a vast improvement for the Chiefs, and when you add in what should be a more aggressive scheme on defense to rush the passer the defense should look worlds better. Emphasis on should.

With Marcus Cooper on one side a Berry taking over the middle, the Chiefs should be able to designate more resources towards Sean Smith/Ron Parker’s area of the field. Those two have each shown some positive things this month but their inconsistency, particularly Parker’s, has many worried about the Chiefs depth at corner. Berry’s return should help numb some of that pain.

Tamba Hali being healthy and rested is always a positive thing.