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

Sep 6, 2024; Sao Paulo, BRA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is assisted off the field after an injury during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Neo Quimica Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Packers QB Jordan Love (knee) hopeful of Week 5 return

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has circled Oct. 6 as his target date to return from his MCL sprain, NFL Network reported Sunday.

That would put his return in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams in his native California.

Love was helped off the field with six seconds left in the 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6. Love went 17-for-34 passing for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in that game.

Malik Willis, acquired from the Tennessee Titans last month, will start for the Packers (0-1) on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts (0-1) in Green Bay. Sean Clifford, elevated from the practice squad on Saturday, will be his backup.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (10) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke hurt on opening drive against Alabama

Wisconsin starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was carted off the field after being injured on the opening drive against No. 4 Alabama on Saturday in Madison, Wis.

Van Dyke, a redshirt senior transfer from Miami, was hurt on a third-down scramble and appeared to injure his right leg. He was replaced by sophomore Braedyn Locke, who started three games last season in place of injured Tanner Mordecai.

Van Dyke completed 38 of 63 passes (60.3 percent) for 406 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in Wisconsin’s first two victories over Western Michigan and South Dakota.

The extent of Van Dyke’s injury has not been announced.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2024; Sao Paulo, BRA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) drops to throw during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Neo Quimica Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Packers say QB Jordan Love (knee) questionable despite no practice

Green Bay Packers fans weren’t expecting Jordan Love to play in Week 2, but then the injury report came out.

Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in Green Bay’s Week 1 loss in Brazil and did not practice this week. Yet on Friday, he received a “questionable” designation for Sunday’s home game against the Indianapolis Colts, rather than being ruled out.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the quarterback has not yet been medically cleared to play.

“He’s doing good,” LaFleur told reporters. “He’s got a great attitude and is working hard and getting better every day.”

LaFleur had previously said the Packers would not place Love on injured reserve as they went “day to day” with his evaluation.

It’s been one week since Love’s injury. He was helped off the field with six seconds left in the 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Sept. 6. Love went 17-for-34 passing for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in that game.

Malik Willis was elevated to the starting role until Love’s return. Willis was acquired from the Tennessee Titans last month and was the No. 2 quarterback behind Love entering Week 1.

The Packers added wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf/shin) to the injury report Friday, marking him questionable. Running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is also questionable.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, United States; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) stiff arms Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals RB James Conner (knee) questionable to return

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner injured his knee in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.

Conner is questionable to return. He went to the medical tent on the sideline and then headed to the locker room.

Conner, 28, who ran for 46 yards on six carries before the injury, entered Sunday with a team-leading 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) is taken from the field on a cart after suffering an apparent injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Browns’ odds plummet with Nick Chubb out for season

The significant knee injury suffered by Browns running back Nick Chubb on Monday night sent Cleveland’s playoff odds falling.

Chubb was carted off the field in the second quarter, and coach Kevin Stefanski said after the team’s 26-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that the star running back was expected to miss the rest of the season.

The sports books reacted to the news Tuesday.

DraftKings moved the Browns from -230 to make the playoffs to -145. The chances of winning the AFC North went from +200 to +330, and to win the AFC championship from +900 to +1200.

Odds of winning Super Bowl LVIII moved from +1800 to +2200.

At BetMGM, the odds of the Browns winning the division lengthened from +220 to +360 and from +1800 to +3000 for the Super Bowl.

Chubb rushed up the middle for a gain of 5 yards with 14:14 left in the second quarter and was in the process of being tackled by Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick dropped his shoulder and ran directly into Chubb’s left knee.

The hit by Fitzpatrick caused Chubb’s leg to bend, and Chubb sat up and grabbed his knee and could be heard yelling in anguish through the field microphones.

Chubb, 27, rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries before exiting. He has 170 yards on 28 carries this season.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons, including a career-high 1,525 last season. Chubb had 996 yards as a rookie in 2018 before beginning his streak of 1,000-yard seasons.

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2023; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) greets fans as he arrives prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (knee) ruled out for season opener

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce (knee) was ruled out for Thursday night’s NFL season opener against the visiting Detroit Lions.

Kelce, 33, who injured his knee at practice Tuesday and was diagnosed with a bone bruise, was listed as questionable to play on the Chiefs’ final injury report. He was scheduled to test his knee before the game.

Kelce recorded career-best totals in catches (110) and touchdowns (12) to go along with a team-leading 1,338 receiving yards in 17 games last season.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Kelce has totaled 814 catches for 10,344 yards and 69 touchdowns in 144 career games (137 starts) with the Chiefs.

Kelce had previously missed only three games since 2014. He sat out two games when the Chiefs rested many of their starters and missed one game when he had COVID-19 in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith (58) wears a Guardian helmet cap during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: MRI for Cowboys’ first-round DT Mazi Smith (knee)

Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Mazi Smith will have a precautionary MRI on his knee, NFL Network reported.

The defensive tackle did not practice Tuesday in Oxnard, Calif., and has been battling tendinitis in training camp.

The 6-foot-3, 337-pound Smith was the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Michigan.

Smith, 22, recorded 88 tackles (six for losses) and one fumble recovery in 30 games with the Wolverines.

Smith was listed as a backup to starter Johnathan Hankins on the Cowboys’ first depth chart released Monday.

Dallas opens the preseason at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions C.J. Gardiner-Johnson  (85) works out on the sidelines during training camp Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson back at practice after knee scare

Cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson was back in pads with his Detroit Lions teammates on Saturday, five days after he was carted off the field with what originally was feared to be a serious knee injury.

At the time of the non-contact injury to his right knee, Gardner-Johnson was visibly upset and comforted by teammates. On Saturday, he was the confident defensive leader the Lions hoped they were getting when they signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $8 million with incentives in March.

Gardner-Johnson told reporters after practice in Allen Park, Mich., that it’s important for him to be on the field.

“I’m contagious. I’m like the flu. I’m like the flu,” he said, per MLive.com. “It’s going to go through your body, and either you get it or don’t get it. And that’s not because I’m cocky. … It’s because I’m confident in my job. I’m confident in my coaches and my teammates and (what) my training (staff) and my strength guys are doing for me. That’s why, you know?”

Gardner-Johnson had an MRI following the injury on Monday, and it showed no structural damage. He was listed as day-to-day. On Tuesday, he was back at practice as a spectator.

“I was at practice every day,” he said. “I was mentally at practice. I don’t think you understand what type of guy you got here. I ain’t miss nothin’. I ain’t miss a practice, I ain’t miss a rep, I’m still out there. My teammates still see me. One thing people got to understand, this game of football, sometimes it ain’t being about the best physically. You got to be the best mentally. So as long as my teammates know I’m out there helping them and coaching them, I don’t really care what you have to say about being back.”

Gardner-Johnson, 25, is projected to start at cornerback for the Lions.

He shared the NFL lead with six interceptions and made a career-high 67 tackles in 12 starts with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He missed five games with a lacerated kidney.

Prior to his lone season with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson was with the Saints from 2019-21 after being selected by New Orleans in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.

In 55 career games (43 starts), Gardner-Johnson has 11 interceptions, 228 tackles, 36 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

–Field Level Media

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney (19) carries the ball on a 65-yard punt return against the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 57 at State Farm Stadium. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney injures knee prior to practice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney “tweaked his knee” while catching punts prior to Sunday’s training camp practice, head coach Andy Reid said.

Reid did not provide any other specifics on Toney, who did not participate in the session.

Toney, 24, had 16 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns in nine games split between the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs last season. The Chiefs acquired Toney from the Giants on Oct. 27 in exchange for a compensatory third-round pick and a sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Toney has totaled 55 receptions for 591 yards and two touchdowns in 19 games since being selected by the Giants with the 20th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media