KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 19, 2005) -- Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Julian Battle will miss the upcoming season with a torn left Achilles' tendon.
Battle, who was working with the starters because of Eric Warfield's legal problems, was injured during a minicamp practice.
"He's going to be operated on," Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. "He popped his Achilles' tendon, and he's lost for the year."
Battle, a third-round draft pick out of Tennessee in 2003, has played in 26 games for the Chiefs. He made one start last season, as a fifth defensive back.
Vermeil put Battle at the top of the depth chart for the team's latest minicamp because the Chiefs expect the NFL to suspend Warfield for violating the league's drug and alcohol policy. Warfield pleaded no contest in January to one count of driving under the influence in Johnson County, Kan.
The charge was a felony because Warfield has two prior DUI convictions. He was sentenced in March to 10 days in jail and 80 days of house arrest.
If the NFL suspends Warfield, Vermeil said Dexter McCleon would be promoted to start alongside Patrick Surtain.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2005, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
