Chiefs say they’re being “cautious” as Eric Berry misses another practice Wednesday

It is a becoming a tiresome subject—the status of Kansas City Chiefs starting safety Eric Berry, who has been held out of practices and games since August 11 in St. Joseph.

But until the Chiefs figure out Berry’s future, whether that be his reinsertion in the lineup or his placement on injured reserve, we will continue to update you here.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Berry would be held out of practice again Wednesday, though he did reiterate the safety is making progress.

“Just so everything calms down on his Achilles area there so, we’re just being cautious with it—long season,” Reid said. “That’s where we’re at, and we have full trust in him. He’s always very honest with us—lets us know. We want him there for the long haul, so we’re trying to make sure everything’s right there.”

In Berry’s absence, the Chiefs played veteran Ron Parker and third-year safety Eric Murray all game long against the Los Angeles Chargers. It is presumed the Chiefs will do the same in the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, if Berry can’t go.

Reid also said that Berry’s doing a great job communicating with head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder.

“That’s part (of it),” Reid said. “Everybody works together, so I just don’t want to put it all on him. The docs, they communicate, and that’s the big thing, and in this case, communication becomes important when you’re dealing with that type of an injury.”

It’s hard to read what exactly is going on here. My best guess is the Chiefs truly believe Berry can play this year, just not yet.

As we saw with what happened last season, Berry’s presence in the postseason is of utmost importance, as the Chiefs seek to get over that divisional-round hump.

But a developing storyline this season is whether they can make the postseason without him. They have managed through one game, but how long can that last?