It is still hard to believe that Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry is back. Late on Tuesday night, the Chiefs released an official statement that Berry would be returning to the practice field on Wednesday. The team was true to its word, with the 26-year-old back on the field for the first time since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in December.
Here are all the updates that we have at this point, with Berry scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. CST.
Eric Berry getting loose before practice. #ChiefsCamp pic.twitter.com/dmX65AKbrY
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) July 29, 2015
Eric Berry started chemotherapy on December 10, and continued to May 13.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Berry opted to have IVs during each chemotherapy in order for him to work out during the process. He came out of chemo a pound heavier.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Berry trained with TE Travis Kelce in Florida during the offseason.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Berry's labs were "pristine," per head trainer Rick Burkholder.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Berry will have some follow up with his doctors, but "right now we're headed in the right direction," per Burkholder.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Head trainer Rick Burkholder: "It's been 247 days since the mass was discovered in Eric Berry's chest." pic.twitter.com/lrtC9BAAEv
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 29, 2015
"He sailed through every test we gave him," #Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder. He did bench, squats & other tests over last week. Looks good.
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) July 29, 2015
Feeling here is that Andy Reid will take things "gradually" and said "we'll see." Berry's attitude is he'll start the 1st game, per Reid.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
"He never had a thought where he was not going to play football." - #Chiefs HC Andy Reid on the attitude of Berry throughout the process.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Andy Reid on Eric Berry: "His thought was I'm going to conquer this thing and play."
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 29, 2015
Eric Berry's parents were in St. Joseph today to watch their son. Reid: "They had to have some juice, too."
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 29, 2015
Berry will work tomorrow but will be off on Friday.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 29, 2015
Reid says Berry looked pretty good out there. Says it's important Berry remains honest about how he feels physically.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 29, 2015
Berry did not participate in team today. Burkholder: "Right now, we're very optimistic that everything is headed in the right direction."
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 29, 2015
Burkholder says Berry was considered cancer-free on June 22.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 29, 2015
Berry benched 275 pounds on the bench press five times and squatted 300-plus five times during testing.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 29, 2015
I want to thank all the men covering camp today for dropping this important news. I will be there on Saturday, but the Berry updates are obviously of utmost importance.