Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) enters the field prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed safety Eric Berry’s status less than a week after an irresponsible Internet rumor took social media by storm.
“There’s really no update on Eric Berry,” Reid said. “He’s having, like I mentioned, some testing done and the doctors will meet and talk it over along with Eric and his family.”
Reid said he didn’t know when there would be another official update on Berry, but the head coach made it clear what would happen whenever there is news to share.
“When we get it,” Reid said, “we’ll get it to you.”
Berry recently concluded treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma, and the Chiefs have maintained communications with Berry ever since he was diagnosed in late November 2014.
The Chiefs have also done a good job of keeping the media informed.
STATUS QUO ON HOUSTON
All-Pro Justin Houston didn’t attend the voluntary organized team activities or mandatory minicamp.
But his absence doesn’t come as a surprise when considering he hasn’t signed a one-year, $13.1 million franchise tender.
Whether he reports for training camp remains to be seen.
“They’re continuing to talk and whether he is here or not, it just depends on how things go,” Reid said. “So we’ll continue to move on and hope that he is here at the beginning of camp.”
The Chiefs and Houston’s representative have until 4 p.m. ET on July 15 to hammer out a multiyear contract or extension. Houston can only sign the one-year tender after that date.
The Chiefs went through the experience of not having Houston in OTAs or minicamp in 2014, and he came back in shape to eventually lead the NFL with 22 sacks.
And Reid isn’t worried about Houston not staying in shape.
“I think he’s working out, absolutely,” Reid said. “That’s just him by nature, so he’s not going to let things slide on his side.”
INJURY UPDATES
Quarterback Tyler Bray (knee) was present for mandatory minicamp after not being present for voluntary organized activities.
Bray, however, did not practice as he recovers from a January ACL surgery.
“We brought him back just to evaluate him and to give him a physical,” Reid said. “We did our physicals this past week, so he was a part of that and it kept him in tune. He sat in the meetings and it kept him in tune and updated him a little bit on the offensive stuff.”
Reid said running back Cyrus Gray (knee) and tight end Demetrius Harris (foot) “continued to improve.”
Gray was on the practice field throughout OTAs and minicamp without his helmet participating in warm-ups with a sleeve on his left knee.
Harris wasn’t present for OTAs or minicamp.
The possibility exists for Bray, Gray and Harris to be candidates for the physically unable to perform list when training camp opens in late July.
“Dorse (general manager John Dorsey) will take care of all of that,” Reid said. “He is evaluating all of that now.”
NOTES: The Chiefs confirmed safety Sanders Commings lost his cousin, Clementa Pinckney, who was shot and killed Wednesday night in Charleston, S.C. … “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sanders Commings and his family,” Reid said … Reid said cornerback Sean Smith was excused from the final day of minicamp to deal with a personal matter.
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Herbie Teope is the lead beat writer and reporter for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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