Eric Berry

The Chiefs released veteran safety Eric Berry late Wednesday afternoon. Berry is now an unrestricted free agent and free to sign with any team.

Fantasy Impact

Had Berry still been on the roster Friday, $7.25 million of his $12.4 million salary for 2019 would have become fully guaranteed. The release comes with a post-June 1 designation, reducing the cap charge for 2019 by $8 million, pushing it to 2020. It’s a move that comes just days after the team agreed to terms on a deal with free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu. “I’d like to thank Eric for his contributions to our team and the Kansas City community over the last nine years,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “Seeing his passion and watching his love for the game has been truly remarkable. He’s a special person, and we wish him the best as his career moves forward.” Berry has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. With a torn achilles in the 2017 season-opener and a nagging heal issue in 2018, he has played in just three regular season games over the last two seasons.

Peter King of NBC Sports expects the Chiefs to retain safety Eric Berry.

Fantasy Impact

Berry is owed $12.5 million this year and has played in just three games over the past two seasons. Still, coach Andy Reid reportedly believes Berry can still be an "impact safety". Cutting Berry wouldn't give the Chiefs much additional cap room anyway.

Chiefs safety Eric Berry (heel) was a full participant in practice all week and was not on the team’s final injury report Friday. Barring an unexpected setback, he will play in Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Patriots.

Fantasy Impact

Berry missed the first 13 games of the season with a heel issue and then sat out Week 17 and last week’s divisional round playoff game after the injury flared up. Head coach Andy Reid said Thursday that the veteran safety was looking like his old self again. Berry’s return will undoubtedly provide a boost as the Chiefs try to contain Tom Brady and the Patriots with a trip to Super Bowl LIII on the line.

Chiefs safety Eric Berry (heel) was a full participant in both Wednesday and Thursday practices as the team prepares for Sunday’s AFC Championship game. Berry missed the first 13 games of the season with a heel issue and then sat out Week 17 and last week’s divisional round playoff game after the injury flared up.

Fantasy Impact

With Berry back to full participation, there is optimism in Kansas City that the star safety will be ready to go against the Patriots. “He looked good out there,” head coach Andy Reid said Thursday. “I see him out there looking like Eric Berry.” Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was a little more hesitant on Berry’s status. “With EB right now, it’s truly a day-to-day deal, and it’s not coach-talk, that’s just how it is,” Sutton said Thursday. “We just kind of have to go and play each day, plan the practice accordingly and go. We obviously would love to have him out there.” Berry has played just 99 snaps this year but would undoubtedly provide a boost as the team tries to contain Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Chiefs safety Eric Berry (heel) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice as the team prepares for Saturday’s playoff game against the Colts.

Fantasy Impact

It’s bad news for the Chiefs especially considering Berry was able to get in a limited session on Tuesday. It’s not known if this was due to a setback with the heel injury that has been giving him trouble all season, or just the team being cautious with their star safety. Berry missed the first 14 games of the season before returning for Weeks 15 and 16. He sat out Week 17 as the heel flared up during the week. His status for Saturday remains up in the air.