Marcus Peters is back on the practice field for Kansas City.
Whether the cornerback’s attitude has improved after a series of embarrassing antics earned him a one-game suspension, or whether his return will help a defense that was much improved without him, won’t be seen until the Chiefs play the Chargers on Saturday night.
One thing is certain: Kansas City head coach Andy Reid won’t give you a hint either way.
He was asked several questions about the Oakland native during his normal midweek availability Tuesday, and each time he demurred, saying only, “What we do here stays right here.”
That goes for any conversations Reid and Peters had upon his return. Or anything Peters said to the rest of the team. Or basically anything having to do with the All-Pro cornerback in general.
Not surprisingly, Peters was not available during the open locker-room period, either.
“None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes,” said quarterback Alex Smith, the closest thing the Chiefs have to a team spokesman. “We’re just trying to go, we’re trying to figure it out. We all deal with our own things and we need him. We need him back and rolling.”
That’s probably true with Philip Rivers and the red-hot Chargers coming to Arrowhead Stadium. The teams are tied at 7-6 atop the AFC West, and the winner has the inside track on a division title.
Hester is done: Devin Hester, the speedster who holds the NFL record for kick-return touchdowns with 20, has announced his retirement from the NFL.
In a post on social media, Hester, 35, said it was time .
“Good news: Commissioner Goodell, you can put the kickoff back at the 30,” the four-time Pro Bowl pick wrote. “Bad news: Y’all will have to find a new favorite returner.”
Hester played for Atlanta, Baltimore and Seattle, but his best years were with the Bears from 2006 through ’13. Chicago took him in the second round (57th overall) out of Miami, and at the end of his rookie season, he took the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl 92 yards for a touchdown against Indianapolis, though the Colts won the game.
Shazier on IR: Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier was placed on injured reserve because of a spinal injury suffered in a victory over Cincinnati on Dec. 4.
Shazier, 25, underwent spinal stabilization surgery last week and remains in the hospital. The team has not released the exact nature of Shazier’s injury and his long-term prognosis.