Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Chiefs get back to work in wake of Eric Berry news

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs got back to work Wednesday in preparation for Sunday night's game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium without safety Eric Berry. Berry was at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta to continue testing for what the Chiefs believe is lymphoma.

Berry indicated in a statement released by the Chiefs on Monday that he was focused on beating the disease. But coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that it took Berry some time before he arrived at that opinion. Reid said Berry indicated first to team medical officials and later to him that he wanted to play against the Broncos.

"He did ask that,'' Reid said. "That wasn't an option. That's the way he's wired.''

The Chiefs returned to the practice field on Wednesday without Berry. Cornerback Ron Parker will shift into Berry's starting spot, as he did during Berry's five-game absence for a high-ankle sprain.

"I would like to go back to what Eric said to the team: It's about the Broncos now. Let's move on,' '' Reid said. "I think the guys have taken that to heart. That's where they're at. They're focused in and ready to go.''

Quarterback Alex Smith indicted it wasn't quite as easy as that.

"You never expect something like this,'' Smith said. "It is tough and it's new to a lot of us. Difficult. You have to find way to refocus and focus that much more.''

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