Eric Berry missed most of the past two seasons, being sidelined for much of 2018 because of a painful heel issue. But the Chiefs’ plan for their All-Pro safety evidently does not include surgery.
The 30-year-old defender is not slated to undergo an offseason procedure to address his nagging heel concern, Andy Reid said (via Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star, on Twitter).
Surgery is sometimes recommended for people dealing with Haglund’s deformity, but for the time being, it looks like Berry will attempt to shake this persistent problem with rest and rehab. He returned for the Chiefs late in the season and was on the field for pivotal snaps against the Patriots in the AFC championship game. But Berry has not been himself since Week 1 of the 2017 season, when a season-ending Achilles injury sidetracked his career.
Thanks to signing the former top-five pick to a safety-record contract back in 2017, the Chiefs have Berry under contract through 2022. Kansas City had issues in its secondary throughout last season, Berry’s injury chief among them.
The Chiefs, who were interested in Earl Thomas before he was lost for the season, likely will attempt to upgrade at this position this offseason. Berry has dealt with this heel condition for nearly two years, though his Achilles injury damaged his other foot. He is set to take up $16MM of Kansas City’s 2019 cap.
John Wall
Trade him now