KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All-Pro safety Eric Berry plans to report to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, giving him two weeks and one preseason game to prepare for the start of the regular season.
A person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press that Berry will join the team after its preseason game Saturday in Chicago. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because he was not authorized to discuss Berry’s plans publicly.
Berry was given the franchise tag early in the offseason but has not signed the deal, which means he could skip all of training camp without being fined. Once he signs the one-year contract, he will make just over $10.8 million, making him the league’s highest-paid safety.
Chiefs Coach Andy Reid and General Manager John Dorsey have said all along they expect Berry to report ahead of the regular season, but it was never clear when that might happen.
Kansas City plays its first regular-season game Sept. 11 against San Diego.
“I think it’s important to see what kind of shape he is in and then gradually bring him back into the football speed of things,” Reid said Tuesday when asked what Berry will need to do to get up to speed. “I don’t think it’s the end of the world if he doesn’t play in the last preseason game.
“The most important thing is to put eyes on him and see what kind of shape he is in,” Reid said, “so we don’t put him at risk out there.”
The Chiefs had hoped to sign Berry to a long-term deal in the offseason, but the two sides were never close to reaching an agreement by the July 15 deadline. The Chiefs remain optimistic they can sign him after this season, though Berry will demand a premium on the free-agent market.
FALCONS: Rookie strong safety Keanu Neal, the team’s first-round pick and a projected starter, will miss the beginning of the season because of a knee injury.
Neal will have arthroscopic surgery Monday on his right knee and is expected to miss three to four weeks, according to the Falcons. Coach Dan Quinn said he is encouraged Neal avoided a more serious injury that could have kept him out longer.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
BUCCANEERS 30, BROWNS 13: Josh Gordon caught everything thrown his way in his preseason debut, scoring on a 43-yard reception and also hauling in another pass from Robert Griffin III for a 44-yard gain as Cleveland lost at Tampa, Florida.
Jameis Winston threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns in one half of work for Tampa Bay. Griffin completed 8 of 14 passes for 119 yards and one TD.
WASHINGTON 21, BILLS 16: Kirk Cousins overcame a rough start to finish 12 of 23 for 188 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, leading Washington a win at home.
STEELERS 27, SAINTS 14: Ben Roethlisberger torched New Orleans’ defense for 148 yards and two touchdown passes on his first two series this preseason, then got the rest of the game off while Pittsburgh rolled to a victory at New Orleans.
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