KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When told a preliminary diagnosis indicated his chest discomfort was due to lymphoma, Eric Berry’s reaction explained a lot about how the Kansas City Chiefs safety is mentally and emotionally wired.

Berry wanted to play in Sunday’s big AFC West division showdown with the Denver Broncos.

“At first I was in shock with the diagnosis and did not even want to miss a game,” Berry said in a statement released by the Chiefs. “But I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent.”

It took several minutes of conversation with team doctors and then with head coach Andy Reid and head trainer Rick Burkholder before Berry realized that his 2014 season was over because of the tumor found on the right side of his chest. Initially, his thoughts were only of facing the Broncos.

“He did ask that,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “That’s the way he’s wired.”

Nobody knows that better than his Chiefs teammates, who were still trying to digest the news on Wednesday as they prepared to play the Broncos for a share of first place in the AFC West.

“That’s the type of player E.B. is,” said linebacker Derrick Johnson, currently sidelined after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in the regular-season opener. “He wants to play and he wants to play with his teammates. He’s a leader on this team and the group is important to him.”

Quarterback Alex Smith allowed that there was still a sense of shock in the locker room about how they lost one of their defensive leaders. Players get sidelined and even lost for the season because of injury. It’s another thing when it happens with the diagnosis of cancer.

“When we first found out, we were completely shocked,” said Smith. “You never expect it. Saddened for him and his family. It’s such a tough situation, as young as he is (25 years old); you just never expect a situation like that, so it hits hard.”

It was Berry who told his teammates about the tumor and his immediate future. First, he shared the news with the team council, a group of veteran leaders.

“We were together and we heard Eric had an announcement and we knew that couldn’t be good,” said punter Dustin Colquitt. “Then we he told us it was just a blow to the chest.”

Later, Berry told the whole team and he left many of his teammates convinced that he will beat his illness and return to the huddle.

“Walking away when he did, you certainly felt better just from his attitude, frame of mind and how positive he was,” said Smith. “He’s one of the hearts of this team. He’s a guy that everybody looks up to and everybody likes. He’s a tremendous leader for as young as he is. When I got here (last season), I was terribly impressed with his maturity and the type of selfless guy that he is.

“It’s tough all the way around, but this is a tight group and they understand what type of fight he has on his hands and we’ll rally around him.”

SERIES HISTORY: This is the 109th regular season meeting between these original members of the American Football League. The Chiefs hold a 56-52 edge, but the Broncos have won five straight, sweeping the series in 2012 and 2013 and winning the first meeting between these teams back in September, 24-17. The Chiefs’ last victory in the series came in the final game of the 2011 season, when they grabbed a 7-3 victory in Denver. The Chiefs’ last home victory against the Broncos was in December 2010, when they won 10-6. The teams have met once in the postseason, with Denver grabbing a 14-10 decision in the 1997 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Arrowhead Stadium.

NOTES: TE Anthony Fasano did not practice Wednesday as he continues to rehab the knee injury that he suffered in a game against Seattle on Nov. 16. Reid said he’s making progress and indicated that Fasano may be available for play Sunday. … WR Junior Hemingway did not practice Wednesday; he has not yet been cleared under the league’s concussion protocols. Hemingway suffered the head injury in last Thursday night’s game against Oakland. … DE Kevin Vickerson did not practice Wednesday due to a calf strain that he suffered in Oakland.