OAKLAND, Calif. — Priest Holmes completed his improbable comeback Sunday,returning to the Kansas City Chiefs’ lineup nearly two years after a seriousneck injury threatened the three-time Pro Bowl running back’s career.

Holmes, once a dynamic runner who became the franchise’s career leader inyards rushing and touchdowns, was added to the Chiefs’ roster and activated forthe first time since Oct. 30, 2005, for their road game against the rivalOakland Raiders.

After watching the Chiefs’ first two series while wearing his helmet on thesideline, Holmes entered the game on the third play of Kansas City’s thirddrive, shortly before the first quarter ended. He caught a screen pass fromDamon Huard, but was tackled by cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for a 6-yard loss.

Even that loss was a huge gain for the 34-year-old Holmes. He hadn’t playedsince absorbing a vicious hit from San Diego’s Shawne Merriman, causing the neckinjury for a player already bedeviled by a knee injury and a previous hipproblem.

Even Chiefs coach Herm Edwards — who took over the club last season — figured Holmes’ career was over when the veteran wasn’t able to return for 2006,spending the season on the physically unable to perform list.

But Holmes surprised the Chiefs by reporting to training camp this summer.After realizing his comeback was worth exploring, the club placed him back onthe physically unable to perform list, keeping him out of full practices duringcamp and the first six weeks of the regular season.

Once Holmes returned to regular practice last Wednesday, the Chiefs hadthree weeks to evaluate him — but Edwards apparently saw what he needed to see.

The Chiefs even traded backup running back Michael Bennett to Tampa Bay fortwo draft picks earlier in the week, a move that cleared a roster spot to befilled by Holmes.

Kansas City apparently intends to use Holmes as a third-down back behindLarry Johnson, who became one of the NFL’s elite ball carriers during Holmes’absence.

After signing as an unheralded free agent from Baltimore, Holmes enjoyed asublime 4 1/2 -year stretch with the Chiefs from 2001-05, rushing for a club-record5,933 yards and 76 TDs. His 83 total TDs also are a franchise best.

Johnson had 3,539 yards rushing over the past two seasons, carrying theKansas City offense in Holmes’ absence.

At least one brave fan wore Holmes’ red No. 31 jersey in a sea ofsilver-and-black shirts in the Coliseum’s Black Hole.

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