Chiefs GM expects Eric Berry to sign, play in season opener

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- General manager John Dorsey on Wednesday said he was confident unsigned safety Eric Berry would return to the Kansas City Chiefs in time to play in the Sept. 11 season opener against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

"The agent has said ... at some juncture during this course, he'll show up here," Dorsey said from training camp at Missouri Western State University. "I haven't talked to Eric one on one about when he's going to show up. Knowing what a prideful professional he is, I think he will show up at the appropriate time.''

Berry is the Chiefs' franchise player, but both sides were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract by the July 15 deadline. Berry's only option for playing this season is to sign the team's mandatory one-year offer worth about $10.8 million.

Berry has yet to sign the contract and has been absent from camp since it started almost two weeks ago.

The Chiefs are using Daniel Sorensen in the starting lineup in Berry's absence. Sorensen, who joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2014, hasn't started a regular-season game in his two years with the Chiefs.