In addition to suffering a 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the season opener, the Kansas City Chiefs got worse news on Monday. Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Berry was injured on the third offensive play of the game on a block by Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson.
“I won’t go into details, but I will say it appears he will be out for the season,” Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said. “I know we just lost one of our best players and that hurts.”
Bills head coach Chan Gailey defended the block as legal and not in any way a cheap shot, saying it happened right in front of an official. “We tell our guys, ‘Hey, you go block those guys because let me tell you, if you’re up in the air, they’re not going to hesitate to go get you and to take a shot at you,’” Gailey said. “It’s legal.”
“It wasn’t the only person we went down and cut,” he said. “It wasn’t the only time we did it.”
Johnson was not available for comment, but he did weigh in via Twitter. He responded to a fan’s accusation that the block was a cheap shot saying: “ILL NEVER CHEAPSHOT A PLAYER ON THE FIELD! IDC if he my Enemy”
Johnson went on to say via Twitter: “Last I checked a cut block was legal”
He also sent a message directly to Berry via Twitter later on Monday evening, saying: “@Stuntman1429 [Berry’s Twitter handle] Not expecting reply but heard final news… Never intended for that. Not even for U to sit for 1 play man. My B”
The Berry injury compounds problems for the Chiefs, who also lost tight end Tony Moeaki to a season ending ACL injury during a preseason game. In addition, linebacker Brandon Siler tore his Achilles and wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin, their first round draft pick, hasn’t been able to participate in practice due to a thumb injury early in camp.
Berry’s backups struggled and the Bills passing attack flourished. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 208 yards and four touchdowns, including one where tight end Scott Chandler was all alone in the end zone on what appeared to be blown coverage by the Chiefs’ backup safeties.
Haley attempted to circle the wagons for the Chiefs, usually a hallmark of the Buffalo Bills. Haley said, “The whole entire team, we know now the areas that we have to make improvements, and we knew it yesterday when it was occurring, because it was pretty obvious stuff. It was a team loss that I take full responsibility for, and I say I’m very encouraged by how today went, that our team and our group of guys will not let it linger.”
