Former Tennessee S Eric Berry reportedly set to make long-awaited return for Chiefs

Eric Berry’s long road back to playing in an NFL game is finally over.

That’s according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who tweeted Thursday morning that the former Tennessee safety will start and play limited snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs in their Thursday Night Football clash against the Los Angeles Chargers.

#Chiefs S Eric Berry, who will get one of the loudest ovations we’ve heard at Arrowhead Stadium tonight, is going to start and be on a pitch count, I’m told. He’ll take it slow — not having played since Week 1 of 2017 — but KC’s leader on D is back from Achilles & heel injuries.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 13, 2018

Berry missed most of 2017 after tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 1 of that season, and lingering heel issues have kept him sidelined since August. The return of the three-time All-Pro selection and five-time Pro Bowler will be a huge boost to the Chiefs’ bottom-ranked pass defense, and the energy generated from his comeback will surely help Kansas City in a crucial AFC West game.

Fans eager to see Berry on the field again can tune in to Thursday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET on Fox.