Kansas Chiefs Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry saw his 2017 season come to an abrupt end in the season opener against the New England Patriots last Thursday after tearing his Achilles tendon.

Prior to undergoing surgery to repair the injury, Berry issued a strong message to his fans and the Chiefs fan base via his agent, Chad Speck.

It is the latest hurdle in Berry's NFL career that has included numerous health issues. He missed the bulk of the 2014 season after finding out that he had lymphoma before recovering and coming back to play in every game the following year. In fact, he performed at an elite level, earning Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selections in each of the last two seasons as well as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

A torn Achilles is a serious injury that has changed the career path of many players beyond just the realm of the football, as it's hard to regain the same physical explosiveness that was there before the injury. Given what Berry has overcome up to this point in his career, it's hard to doubt him returning at full strength before possibly adding another Comeback Player of the Year award to his mantel.

In the meantime, his absence is a huge loss for a Chiefs defense that has become one of the top units in the league over the last couple seasons.