The Kansas City Chiefs will have to continue their quest for a perfect season without ultra-reliable kicker Harrison Butker for the foreseeable future.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Harrison Butker has a left knee injury that will sideline him for the next weeks. Pelissero added that Butker will “likely” be placed on the injured reserve.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that the Chiefs have signed Spencer Shrader off the New York Jets’ practice squad. Shrader signed with Colts as an undrafted free agent in April, appearing in one game apiece for Indianapolis and New York this year.
Harrison Butker missed four games during the 2022 season with a high ankle sprain, prompting Kansas City to use Matthew Wright (two games) and Matt Ammendola (also two games) as temporary kickers.
The Chiefs (9-0) visit Josh Allen and the rival Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium this Sunday in a rematch of last year’s AFC Divisional Round. That game, of course, ended when Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal attempt.
The Chiefs will then visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 before coming back home to host the Las Vegas Raiders in the Black Friday game. If Butker is placed on the IR, he’d be eligible to return after Kansas City’s Week 14 home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City’s final four games are: at Cleveland Browns (on the road), vs. the Houston Texans, at Pittsburgh Steelers and at Denver Broncos.
Harrison Butker Is Having An Excellent Year For Chiefs
The 29-year-old Butker has been close to Mr. Automatic for the Chiefs this year. He’s made 18 of 20 field goal attempts and 21 of 22 extra points, with the two FG misses being 50-plus yarders.
Butker has been a vital part of the Chiefs’ dynastic run, with game-winning kicks in the waning seconds of the 2022 AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl 58.
