Kansas City, Mo. – Three-time Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes will report to the Kansas City Chiefs’ camp Saturday in a surprise development that comes 21 months after he was knocked out of football by a devastating hit.
The return of the team’s career leading rusher adds an interesting twist to the situation surrounding Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, who has vowed to hold out of camp until he gets a new contract.
The Chiefs announced Wednesday that Holmes informed them he will report to their camp in River Falls, Wis., on Saturday, the day after they hold their first full workout.
“In my conversation with Priest, he was excited about playing,” Chiefs president Carl Peterson said in a statement.
Many thought Holmes, who turns 34 on Oct. 7, was done. Since suffering neck and head trauma in the hit by San Diego’s Shawne Merriman on Oct. 30, 2005, he has kept his distance from the Chiefs, staying in Texas and having little to do with the team.
But the Chiefs, hopeful he might resume a career that has seen him rush for 5,933 yards since signing as a free agent in 2001, kept him on the physically unable to perform list and kept paying his salary.
Although age and nearly two years of inactivity suggest his skills could be significantly eroded, his history offers evidence that might not be the case. He had hip surgery after the 2002 season that some felt would end his career. But he rebounded the next year to rush for 1,420 yards and score an NFL-record 27 touchdowns.
Coach Herm Edwards said the Chiefs would proceed cautiously with Holmes to gauge his conditioning and readiness. He also seemed to send a message to Johnson that Holmes will not be counted on as the starter.
“I believe Priest Holmes is a team guy and has indicated to me his desire to help this team.” Edwards said. “If he’s able to come back, he understands and accepts the fact that he would have a different role than when he was the starter.”
The Chiefs and Johnson, in the meantime, remain far apart.
Johnson wants guaranteed money in the $28 million range, although he remains under contract for two more seasons.
