[Kansas City.com] It was just some stretching exercises and a few one-on-one blocking drills. But when Will Shields returned to the practice field Sunday, heads turned and coaches grinned.
Shields, a 10-time Pro Bowl guard, worked out for the first time since training camp started July 28. After participating in individual work, Shields said he felt “all right.”
Coach Dick Vermeil felt even better. Shields left camp late last month to get a third opinion on his back, and there had been whispers of a possible retirement stretching back to last spring.
“It’s coming along real slowly,” Shields said after the evening workout. “I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things. I’m trying to keep everything from flaring back up. Who knows? We’ll see how it goes.”
Shields, who will turn 34 next month, has started 191 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL. But he’s battling arthritic conditions in his knee and lower back, and his back pain became worse in the first workout of camp.
Vermeil said Shields probably won’t start doing team work until at least the end of the week.
“He looked good,” Vermeil said. “I don’t think we’ll push him that fast.”
