Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader (3) kicks a field goal in the fourth quarter of the NFL preseason game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Chiefs pluck untested Spencer Shrader from Jets, place PK Harrison Butker (knee) on IR

Harrison Butker landed on injured reserve with a left knee injury, forcing the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs to sign a replacement, Spencer Shrader, off the Jets’ practice squad on Thursday.

Butker won’t be on the field when the Chiefs (9-0) visit the Buffalo Bills (8-2) on Sunday trying to win an 16th consecutive game dating to last season.

Eighth among NFL kickers in points with 75 this season, Butker connected on 18 of 20 field-goal attempts and 21 of 22 extra points. Both of the missed field goals were on tries beyond 50 yards.

Butker’s career 89.21 field-goal percentage ranks third in NFL history.

The Chiefs have won seven of nine games by a one-possession margin in 2024. Their last visit to Buffalo was a 27-24 nail-biter win in last seasons’s AFC Divisional Playoffs, and the regular-season meeting with the Bills was a 20-17 loss. The Chiefs also dropped a 24-20 decision to the Bills in the 2022 regular season.

A 25-year-old rookie from Notre Dame, Shrader connected on both of his field-goal attempts for the Jets last week at Arizona. He joined the Jets after being released by the Indianapolis Colts, who used Shrader in Week 1 for three successful PATs as the injury replacement for placekicker Matt Gay.

He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and played college football only after first pursuing a pro soccer career. He enrolled at USF in 2019 and was the primary kicker for four seasons. As a graduate transfer in 2023, Shrader had four 50-yard field goals for the Fighting Irish.

Butker, 29, signed a self-negotiated four-year, $25.6 million extension in August that made him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL.

Butker set the Super Bowl record for longest field goal during the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII earlier this year. Butker’s 57-yard field goal with 5:01 left in the third quarter supplanted the previous record that had been set just one quarter earlier by 49ers rookie Jake Moody, who kicked a 55-yarder to give San Francisco an early 3-0 lead.

Originally drafted out of Georgia Tech by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Butker has played all seven of his NFL seasons with the Chiefs.

Shrader participated in the Colts’ 2024 offseason program and training camp after originally signing with the team as an undrafted free agent.

–Field Level Media

Jan 30, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs PK Harrison Butker set for Sunday return

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker passed another test Thursday, clearing the path for his return to the lineup from a Week 1 ankle injury.

Butker used a short approach and kicked without discomfort on Wednesday, graduating to a typical three-step-and-drive launch routine in Thursday’s practice.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Butker is ready to go for Week 6, a Sunday showdown at Arrowhead against the Buffalo Bills.

“As long as we don’t have any setbacks,” Toub added. “He’s day-to-day. He looked good at practice.”

The last time Butker kicked against the Bills, the divisional playoffs in January, he had 12 points and made 3 of 4 field goal tries. Kansas City won the game 42-36. He had eight points (2 of 2 field goals, including a 54-yarder) in the Week 5 home loss to Buffalo (38-20) last season.

Butker was sidelined with an ankle sprain in the opener and replaced mid-game on kickoffs by safety Justin Reid, who also punched through an extra point.

Kansas City went with Matt Ammendola, but a missed field goal and extra point led the Chiefs to turn to Matthew Wright. Wright has made 3 of 4 field goals and all eight extra points in two games.

Butker made a 54-yard field goal using a “one step” approach after he was injured Week 1 at Arizona. He has an all-time field goal percentage of 90.2 percent and has only five misses since the start of the 2020 season (33 regular-season games). During that stretch he is 12 for 14 from 50-plus yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (21) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs rookie CB Trent McDuffie returns to practice

Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie returned to practice Wednesday after spending the past four weeks on injured reserve.

McDuffie injured his hamstring in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. He was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, and the team has 21 days to place him on the active roster.

“He’s been rehabbing and we’ll just see how he does,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “He’s been going full-speed with his rehab. We’ll see how he does working back in.”

McDuffie, taken No. 21 overall in this year’s draft, earned the start against the Cardinals but got injured after 32 defensive snaps.

McDuffie doesn’t have an injury report designation since he’s not on the 53-man roster. Four Chiefs missed practice Wednesday — safety Bryan Cook (concussion), cornerbacks Rashad Fenton (hamstring) and Chris Lammons (hip), and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (torn ACL).

However, kicker Harrison Butker returned to practice after missing four games with a sprained ankle he sustained in Week 1. Matt Ammendola (Weeks 2-3) and Matthew Wright (Weeks 4-5) have filled in. Butker was listed as limited.

Defensive ends Frank Clark (illness) and Mike Danna (calf) were also listed as limited.

The Chiefs (4-1) are preparing for a mighty AFC showdown against the Buffalo Bills (4-1), who opened as slight favorites over the Chiefs in Kansas City.

–Field Level Media

Jan 23, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) prepares to kick a field goal with punter Tommy Townsend (5) holding against the Buffalo Bills during an AFC Divisional playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs K Harrison Butker (ankle) out for second straight game

Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker will miss his second straight game due to a left ankle injury when the Chiefs visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Butker injured his plant leg during the season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Matt Ammendola will again be Kansas City’s place-kicker this week. He booted field goals of 19 and 31 yards and made all three extra points during a 27-24 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.

Butker has made 90.2 percent of his field-goal attempts (147 of 163) in 78 games with the Chiefs dating back to 2017.

Kansas City defensive end Mike Danna (calf) also will sit out against the Colts. He was injured against the Chargers.

Also, receiver Mecole Hardman (heel) was a full practice participant on Friday and is set to play.

–Field Level Media

Aug 20, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker (7) leaves the field against the Washington Commanders after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

With Harrison Butker ailing, Justin Reid shares Chiefs’ kicking duties

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker suffered an ankle injury on a kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Butker was injured after the first kickoff and was successful on the PAT after the Chiefs’ second touchdown. He reached the end zone on both his kickoffs.

When Kansas City later scored a touchdown to take a 20-7 lead, safety Justin Reid missed the extra point wide right. However, Reid did reach the end zone on the ensuing kickoff.

That third touchdown came on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire on fourth-and-2. The decision to go for the score rather than kick a field goal was potentially influenced by Butker not being available.

Butker later came on to make a 54-yard field-goal attempt to give Kansas City a 23-7 lead at halftime. Reid handled the ensuing kickoff, and again hit it deep in the end zone for a touchback.

–Field Level Media

Dec 5, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker (right) kicks a field goal as punter Tommy Townsend (left) holds during the first half against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Report: Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (COVID) ruled out vs. Steelers

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will miss Sunday’s key AFC game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of COVID-19 protocols, NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Butker is unvaccinated, meaning he needs to sit out a minimum of 10 days after testing positive. Butker tested positive on Monday, per the report.

Kicking instead for the Chiefs on their home field will be 27-year-old Elliott Fry, who appeared in one game with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He connected on a 23-yard field goal and made one of two extra point attempts.

Butker, 26, is 22 of 25 on field goal tries this season and 41 of 43 on extra point attempts. His career 89.9 percent success rate on field goals is second best in NFL history behind Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens.

For the Chiefs, tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill are on the reserve/COVID list, but it’s possible that vaccinated players could return in time for Sunday’s game in Kansas City.

For the Steelers, linebackers Devin Bush and Marcus Allen, as well as offensive tackle Zach Banner, are on the reserve/COVID list.

The game has significant playoff implications for both teams. The Chiefs (10-4) could move a step closer to the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win. The Steelers (7-6-1) need a win to stay in contention for a wild-card berth.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a field goal with punter Tommy Townsend (5) holding against the Las Vegas Raiders during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs add PK Harrison Butker to growing COVID list

The Kansas City Chiefs placed kicker Harrison Butker and cornerback Charvarius Ward on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, joining tight end Travis Kelce as potential Week 16 roster casualties.

Kelce landed on the list Monday, casting doubt on the availability of the Chiefs’ top red-zone weapon for Sunday’s game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.

The All-Pro tight end caught the game-winning touchdown and recorded a career-best 191 yards and two TDs on 10 receptions Thursday to help carry the Chiefs past the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, 34-28.

In preparation for Butker’s absence, the Chiefs elevated Elliott Fry from the practice squad.

Per multiple reports, Kelce is vaccinated and would be subject to the NFL’s new test-to-return protocol with a potential return 24 hours after first testing negative.

Kelce has 83 receptions for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.

In his most recent meeting with the Steelers (2018), Kelce had a two-touchdown game with seven receptions for 109 yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) takes the snap against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Butker kicks Chiefs to OT win over Chargers

Patrick Mahomes passed for two touchdowns, and Harrison Butker’s franchise record-tying 58-yard field goal in overtime spoiled Justin Herbert’s impressive debut, as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the AFC West-rival Los Angeles Chargers 23-20 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

The winning kick with 1:55 left was Butker’s second 58-yarder of the day. He matched the club record set by Nick Lowery, who kicked 58-yard field goals in 1983 and 1985.

The Chiefs (2-0) fell behind 17-6 in the second half, but erased the deficit with 11 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The run capped when Mahomes threw for 54 of his 302 yards on a one-footed toss to Tyreek Hill for a touchdown.

Hill finished with 99 yards on five receptions.

A successful two-point conversion pass to Mecole Hardman made up for an unsuccessful PAT in the second quarter after a 10-yard Travis Kelce touchdown reception. Jerry Tillery broke through to block the kick.

That was the sole misfire for Butker on a historic day. His 30-yard field goal as time expired forced overtime.

Mahomes helped set up Butker’s game-tying field goal with a 12-play, 63-yard drive spanning the final 2:27 of regulation. Facing a third-and-20 late into the possession, Mahomes found a seam up the middle to run for 21 of his team-high 54 rushing yards.

Los Angeles (1-1) — which went 2-9 in one-score games last season but opened the 2020 campaign with a 16-13 win in Cincinnati — won possession to open overtime. Herbert threw for the final seven of his 311 yards, gained on 22-of-33 passing, helping set up a fourth-and-1.

The Chargers opted to punt, however, setting up Kansas City’s game-winning drive.

Herbert, the team’s first-round draft choice, was a late insert into the lineup with Week 1 starter Tyrod Taylor scratched just before kickoff due to a chest injury. Herbert led the Chargers on an opening 79-yard, eight-play drive, capped on a 4-yard run for a touchdown.

His 14-yard connection with wide receiver Jalen Guyton in the late second quarter marked Guyton’s first career touchdown, and made Herbert the first player to both rush and pass for a touchdown in the first half of his debut since Bobby Clatterbuck of the New York Giants in 1954.

Herbert finished with 18 yards rushing, complementing the duo of Austin Ekeler (93 yards on 16 carries) and Joshua Kelley (64 yards on 23 carries). Keenan Allen led the Chargers with 96 yards on seven receptions.

Kelce had 90 yards on nine receptions for Kansas City.

–Field Level Media