Eric Berry Injury: Can Kansas City Chiefs Effectively Replace Injured Safety?

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially lost second-year strong safety Eric Berry for the year with a torn ACL. This is a gigantic blow for a Chiefs defense that looked horrendous in a 41-7 Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Berry was arguably the best player on Kansas City's defense last season. He made the Pro Bowl and was indispensable at the back of the secondary. He played 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 2010, made 92 tackles and had four interceptions. He was excellent against both the run and pass. If a defense can have a franchise player, Berry was it for the Chiefs.

Ten-year veteran Jon McGraw is the favorite to step into Berry's spot. How much of a drop-off will there be? Well McGraw wasn't even guaranteed a roster spot at the beginning of training camp despite the fact that he made five starts in 2010.

While the Chiefs should have a decent front seven led by Tamba Hali, Tyson Jackson and Glen Dorsey, they simply didn't get enough pressure on Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick Sunday afternoon. That put an inordinate amount of strain on the secondary. Now without Berry back there to patrol and make plays, the Chiefs could be in even more trouble.

Guys like Hali, Dorsey, Jackson and the newly-acquired Kelly Gregg will need to step up and do more with Berry done for the year.

Much like Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, a guy of Berry's ability cannot just be replaced. The defense as a whole will have to improve and be better all around to make up for the loss of a stud like that.

That improvement will start up front, as the Chiefs' front seven must get stronger in a hurry if the team wants to remain a player in the AFC West.