Chiefs RB Holmes to report to training camp
July 25, 2007
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (TICKER) -- The Kansas City Chiefs may have an insurance policy if Larry Johnson decides to hold out.
After missing all of last season with neck and shoulder injuries, three-time Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes informed the team Wednesday that he will report to training camp.
The Chiefs open training camp at Rivers Falls, Wisconsin, on Saturday.
Holmes, 33, started last season on the physically-unable-to-perform list and never came off it. He missed the final nine games of the 2005 campaign due to neck and shoulder injuries, but has now passed a physical and is ready to resume football activities.
"In my conversation with Priest, he was excited about playing," Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. "Later, (coach) Herm (Edwards) and I sat down with Priest here in Kansas City and discussed his decision and our thoughts on his return.
"We may put him on active PUP (physically unable to perform) initially to gauge his football conditioning to see how he feels after non-contact drills. But he indicated very strongly to me that he wanted to play and his motivation was to help the Kansas City Chiefs win a championship."
From 2002-04, Holmes amassed 66 total touchdowns, an NFL record for a three-year span.
Signed in April 2001 after spending his first four seasons with Baltimore, Holmes rushed for 5,933 yards and 76 touchdowns in 61 games with the Chiefs. His 24 100-yard games match Johnson for the most in franchise history.
Entering camp, the Chiefs have questions if Johnson, who rushed for 1,789 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, will be there. He reportedly is unhappy with his contract.
If Johnson is in camp, Edwards made it clear that he would be the starter.
"The combination of Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes has previously proved very difficult to stop in the past," Edwards said. "At this point, we need to proceed slowly to determine where is from a health and conditioning standpoint. Hopefully, he's able to come back and continue his career with the Chiefs.
"I believe Priest Holmes is a team guy and has indicated to me his desire to help the team. If he's able to come back, he understands and accepts the fact that he would have a different role than when he was a starter."
In addition to his rushing totals, Holmes also has caught 246 passes for 2,360 yards and seven touchdowns.
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