Through the first 12 weeks of the season, Kansas City Chiefs star safety Eric Berry has been unable to take the field due to a nagging heel injury that has continued to linger since the start of training camp.

However, Berry has taken a major step forward toward making a return to the field this season as he was able to practice for the first time all season on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network.

This is a highly encouraging development for the Chiefs with the potential of getting back one of their core pieces to their secondary for the stretch run of the season into the playoffs.

Obviously, there are still some hurdles for Berry to get past first in proving that he can get a week's worth of practice in first without any setbacks, but it is certainly a step in the right direction for him.

Berry is still making his way back from suffering a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in the season opener last season against the New England Patriots. A torn Achilles is often an injury that can be career changing as it often times results in players having less of a burst physically that could significantly impact their play on the field.

That said, Kansas City will likely continue to go the precautionary route with Berry, as he plays a critical part in their secondary as the anchoring piece to the puzzle.

When healthy, he has proven to be one of the top safeties in the league, earning five Pro Bowl nods, three First-Team All-Pro selections, and an NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. This will be something that the Chiefs will monitor moving forward over the rest of the week to get a better determination of his status for this week's game against the Oakland Raiders.