INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Chiefs defensive backfield won’t have its familiar look when the team gathers for its first off-season program under head coach Romeo Crennel. Kansas City’s secondary could feature up to three new faces lining up with the first-team defense once OTAs begin later this spring.
In addition, Pro Bowl strong safety
Berry’s recovery process since tearing his left ACL has been positive and is moving on schedule, but the Chiefs aren’t likely to rush one of their top play-makers into full football activity less than nine months after undergoing knee surgery.
A similar approach will be taken with running back
“Once we get to OTAs we’ll see how much they can do and how they respond to what they’re asked to do,” Crennel said. “Then we’ll have to go from there.”
In addition to Carr’s contract status and Berry’s ongoing rehabilitation, starting free safety
Lewis recently underwent shoulder surgery to repair an injured labrum. He suffered the injury in the Chiefs season finale at Denver.
“He had his shoulder cleaned out and those can be tough to comeback from,” Crennel said. “He’s going to have to recover from that. They say everything is going good, but that’s of those that we’ll have to be careful with and make sure its back before we get him at out there at full speed.
“He can still run and things like that. We’ll manage him by letting him do all of the individual drills, drops and things like that, but no diving for the ball or those things.”
Having both starting safeties sidelined should fuel a competitive off-season environment for younger players and reserves to prove their worth prior to entering training camp.
The Chiefs added free agent
The Chiefs tendency to use three safeties in sub-package sets only increases the need to make further additions at the position this off-season.
