NFL notes: Cancer survivor Eric Berry enjoys home return

Eric Berry has made the drive into Arrowhead Stadium on game day dozens of times over the years. On Friday night, he rolled down the windows and went a little bit slower.

He wanted to smell the barbecue wafting off the grills in the parking lot. He wanted to see the kids throwing footballs between the cars. And more than anything, he wanted to hear all those Kansas City Chiefs fans shout words of encouragement when they saw him roll past.

“All those emotions and things that come with the game, you get it riding through the parking lot,” he said. “You have to be a Kansas City Chief to understand.”

Few people expected Berry to make that drive Friday night, at least not in December, when the Pro Bowl safety was diagnosed with lymphoma and stepped away from the game.

But after grueling rounds of chemotherapy, Berry was deemed cancer-free in June. He was back in training camp by the time rookies arrived in July, and made his return to the field last week in Arizona, a remarkable recovery that left even his doctors in Atlanta amazed.

When he stepped onto the turf in Arrowhead Stadium for Friday night’s game against Seattle, he was greeted by a roar from a crowd that has always adored him.

“They give you so many words of encouragement,” Berry said. “It does so much for me.”

The simple fact that Berry is healthy makes his story a success. That he is back playing the game he loves eight months after diagnosis makes it downright astonishing.

But he’s not just playing, either. Berry is flourishing. He began working with rookies and long shots in training camp, but has slowly moved up the pecking order, spending most of his time lately with the No. 2 defense. But against the Seahawks, he was on the field several snaps with the starters, especially when they used an extra defensive back in nickel packages.

RG3 recovering

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was apparently doing well after leaving Thursday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions with a concussion.

Washington tight end Je’Ron Hamm said, “Robert’s fine,” on a conference call.

Griffin was injured when Lions defensive end Corey Wootton landed on him while trying to recover his fumble in the second quarter.

Quick kicks

Bills running back Fred Jackson (hamstring) and receivers Sammy Watkins (glute) and Robert Woods (undisclosed) returned to the practice field. … Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and rookie running back Duke Johnson returned to practice after being sidelined by hamstring injuries. … The Lions released wide receiver Jared Haggins and defensive back Taylor Mays and signed tight end Deon Butler.