Berry signs franchise tender
Safety will practice today but not play in preseason finale.
Safety Eric Berry signed hi s franchi se tender and reported to camp Sunday, though he is almost certain to miss Kansas City’s preseason finale against Green Bay.
Berry was given the franchise tag early in the offseason but had not signed the deal, which means he could skip all of training camp without being fined. The deal will pay him just over $10.8 million this season, making him the league’s highestpaid safety.
Kansas City plays its first regular-season game Sept. 11 against San Diego.
Berry played in every game last season, less than a year after he was diagnosed with cancer. He made 55 tackles, a pair of interceptions and resumed his role as the heart and soul of the defense.
“I said, ‘You don’t count the fish till it’s in the boat.’ So, fish is in the boat, right?” coach Andy Reid said. “It’s good to have him back. He’s got a smile on his face, and he’s ready to go. That’s the important thing, that we get him into football shape.”
The Chiefs had hoped to sign Berry to a long-term deal in the offseason, but the t wo sides were never close to reaching an agree- ment by the July 15 deadline. The Chiefs remain optimistic they can sign him after this season, though Berry will demand a premium on the free-agent market.
Bengals: Running back and special teams Pro Bowler Cedric Peerman fractured his left forearm in Sunday night’s game against the Jaguars and is likely out for the season. Cornerback Adam Jones (calf strain in pregame warmups) did not play. Receiver A. J. Green suffered a knee injury in the first half but said at halftime it was not serious.
Ravens: Tight end Benjamin Watson tore his Achill e s t e n d o n o n t h e f i r s t play Saturday night and is expected to miss the season. The 35-year-old Watson was due for an MRI on Sunday. Running back Kenneth Dixon (sprained left knee) will miss four to six weeks.
Chargers: Running back Branden Oliver tore his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s pre- season loss to the Vikings and will be out indefinitely. The injury also complicates San Diego’s special teams, as Oliver was the club’s top kickoff returner.
49ers: Defiant, and determined to be a conduit for U.S. change, Colin Kaepernick plans to sit through the national anthem for as long as he feels is appropriate and until he sees significant progress in America — specifically when it comes to race relations.
“I’m going to continue to st and with the people that are being oppressed,” Kaepernick said Sunday. “When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.”
Two days after he refused to stand for “The Star Spangled Banner ” before the 49ers’ preseason loss to the Packers, Kaepernick insists whatever the consequences, he will know he “did what’s right.”
Bears: Quarterback Connor Shaw, who suffered a broken leg on Saturday night, derided Chiefs defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches on Twitter for “cheap BS!” but later deleted the tweet. Coach John Fox called the injury “very serious.”
Broncos: A strong performance by Trevor Siemian may have locked him in as the team’s starting quarterback. He threw a touchdown pass against the Rams on Saturday night and was then followed by rookie Paxton Lynch. Mark Sanchez did not play and could be released in the roster cut to 75.
Cowboys: Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team may look to acquire a veteran quarterback with Tony Romo (broken bone in his back) possibly out until at least midseason. Rookie Dak Prescott is the starter.
Fa l c o n s : Wi t h r o o k i e strong safet y Keanu Neal facing arthroscopic surgery today and likely to miss at least two weeks, the team s i g n e d 1 0 - y e a r v e t e r a n Dashon Goldson.
Eagles: Wide receivers Rueben Randle and Chris Givens were released. Randle had 57 catches for 797 yards and eight touchdowns for the Giants last season. But he only caught three passes in three preseason games.