Tony

Moeaki

Updates on Berry’s progress have been few and far between since he tore up his knee in Week 1 last season, but he’s joined teammates Jamaal Charles (torn ACL) and Tony Moeaki (torn ACL) in being forecasted to be ready for the beginning of camp. It’s possible Berry will even get in some work at Chiefs OTAs. Barring a setback, he’ll be all systems go for Week 1 in 2012.

After watching Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels embrace the two-tight end attack, new Chiefs coordinator Brian Daboll, formerly a Patriots assistant, will install one of his own. Boss will be the inline tight end with Tony Moeaki (ACL surgery) ticketed for the more versatile “Joker” role. From a fantasy standpoint, Moeaki has the higher ceiling, though neither player is likely to exceed TE2 production.

Moeaki has been running and lifting weights, but he’s still unsure about his participation level in offseason practices beginning next month. Moeaki will be more than 10 months removed from surgery by the time camp opens, so his Week 1 status should in no way be in jeopardy.

It’s an indication he’ll be ready to go for training camp. Moeaki showed promise during a 47-catch rookie season in 2010, but has been injury prone going back to his days at the University of Iowa. He won’t be a strong dynasty league own until he proves he can get and stay healthy.

It’s unclear if Charles and Moeaki will be official participants in Chiefs OTAs, but they will resume football activities long before the start of training camp. Both will be a year removed from tearing their ACLs in September, and neither is believed to be in danger of not being ready for Week 1.

Charles is presumably resuming football workouts nearly five months after sustaining the injury. Tony Moeaki (ACL surgery) tweeted that he and Charles will square off in a footrace next week.

All three players are in the final stages of their recoveries from torn ACLs. Each is expected to be at or extremely close to 100 percent for the beginning of camp. Charles recently estimated that he’s “80 percent,” and said he felt he can “do the same thing my teammates do.” Kansas City will likely hold its dynamic trio out of next month’s minicamp.

He avoided active/PUP. Moeaki seemed like the most questionable of the Chiefs’ three ACL patients during the spring, but he avoided setbacks and is on track to start in Week 1. While we don’t like Moeaki as more than a TE2 coming off the injury in what may be one of the NFL’s run-heaviest offenses, his return will help the team. He’s a reliable pass catcher and strong run blocker.

All three players are recovering from torn ACLs suffered early in the 2011 season. “Everything we’ve been led to believe is that the guys are going to be ready,” Pioli said. “They’ll be ready, but I also think we’re going to be smart with all players, not only the ones who were on injured-reserve last year. We’re going to have to monitor as we go along.” Charles has long guaranteed he’ll be ready for the beginning of camp, and over 10 months removed from his injury, there’s little reason to doubt him. He’s Rotoworld’s No. 10 running back.

Kevin Boss had four catches for 62 yards in August. GM Scott Pioli says Moeaki is as healthy as he can be at this point, but opportunities are going to be a concern here. The Chiefs are planning on running one of the league’s most run-heavy offenses and Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, Jon Baldwin, Dexter McCluster, and Boss are all in the mix for targets. Moeaki is barely on the TE2 radar.