2. Berry set to rejoin Chiefs

All-Pro safety yet to sign franchise tag; Romo OK after exit.

All-Pro safety Eric Berry plans to report to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, giving him two weeks and one preseason game to prepare for the start of the regular season. A person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press that Berry, who played at Creekside and Tennessee, will join the team after its preseason game today in Chicago.

All-Pro safety Eric Berry plans to report to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, giving him two weeks and one preseason game to prepare for the start of the regular season.

A person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press that Berry will join the team after its preseason game today in Chicago. Berry was given the franchise tag early in the offseason but has not signed the deal, which means he could skip all of training camp without being fined. Once he signs the oneyear contract, he will make just over $10.8 million, making him the league’s highest-paid safety.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey have said all along they expect Berry to report ahead of the regular season, but it was never clear when that might happen. Kansas City plays its first game Sept. 11 against San Diego.

“I think it’s important to see what kind of shape he is in and then gradually bring him back into the football speed of things,” Reid said Tuesday, when asked what Berry will need to do to get up to speed. “I don’t think it’s the end of the world if he doesn’t play in the last preseason game.

“The most important thing is to put eyes on him and see what kind of shape he is in,” Reid said, “so we don’t put him at risk out there.”

The Chiefs had hoped to sign Berry to a long-term deal in the offseason, but the two sides were never close to reaching an agreement 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.

Cowboys: Three plays were all it took for Dallas to get yet another injury scare surrounding Tony Romo. The quarterback lasted just 90 seconds into Thursday night’s preseason game at Seattle before leaving with what appeared at first to be a potentially significant injury, but ended up being minor.

Romo was tackled from behind by Seattle’s Cliff Avril on the third play from scrimmage as Romo scrambled from the pocket. He immediately grabbed at his back, crumpled on the field while trainers sprinted from the Dallas sideline.

Turned out it was all just a scare. Romo walked off the field without assistance, threw passes on the sideline and lobbied for a return to the game but coach Jason Garrett opted to play it safe.

“I just think everyone had a scare,” owner Jerry Jones said. “And he was not hurt.”

Falcons: Rookie strong safety Keanu Neal, the team’s first-round pick and a projected starter, will miss the beginning of the season with a knee injury. Neal will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Monday and is expected to miss three to four weeks. Coach Dan Quinn said he is encouraged Neal avoided a more serious injury that could have kept him out longer.

Wide receiver Julio Jones is expected to be limited in practice after leaving Thursday night’s game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Quinn said he the injury is not expected to threaten Jones’ status for the regular season.

Bengals: Tight end Tyler Eifert, making his way back from an ankle injury suffered in the Pro Bowl, is targeting a return somewhere between Week 4 and Week 6, NFL Media reported. With backup Tyler Kroft battling a sprained knee, fellow second-year man C.J. Uzomah has a chance to start the opener against the Jets.

Jets: Right tackle Breno Giacomini is still dealing with a lower-back strain that will likely keep him out of the team’s regular-season opener — and perhaps longer. Ben Ijalana and Brent Qvale have been splitting snaps with the starting offense, but neither has started an NFL game.