In this Oct. 10, 2009, file photo, Tennessee's Eric Berry (14) returns a fumble as he gets away from Georgia's Michael Moore (82) and Eric Elliot (30) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn. Berry is a top prospect in the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)Former Tennessee All-American and current Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been cleared to return to practice roughly eight months after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, the team announced Tuesday night.
Berry began treatments in December for the cancer, in which tumors develop in the body's lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
"After several rounds of thorough testing and a process that concluded late Tuesday evening, Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been cleared to take the practice field with the club for Wednesday morning's practice with quarterbacks, rookies and injured players," read a statement on the Chiefs' official web site.
Eric's younger twin brothers, Evan and Elliott, currently are sophomores for the Volunteers.
While undergoing treatment, Eric Berry was able to visit Knoxville on a couple of occasions during spring practice.
"To be honest, I really don't see it affecting him," safety Evan said of his brother in April.
"He's a very strong person, and we'll just continue to keep him strong."
During his playing career with the Vols, Berry, a fan favorite and one of the program's most popular and famous alums, was a two-time All-American selection and won the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back as a junior in 2009. He was the sixth overall pick of Kansas City in the 2010 NFL draft. He was selected to the NFL's Pro Bowl in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
In 60 games with Kansas City, Berry has racked up 323 tackles, 5.5 sacks and eight interceptions.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.