Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker to Undergo Surgery, Miss 3-4 Weeks
Breaking News: Injury Update on Kansas City Chiefs Kicker
Harrison Butker Out for Several Weeks Following Knee Surgery
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is expected to undergo surgery on his left knee and will miss the next 3-4 weeks of the regular season, according to head coach Andy Reid. Butker sustained the injury during the Chiefs' Week 1 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Chiefs will likely turn to veteran kicker Matt Ammendola to fill in for Butker while he recovers from surgery. Ammendola was signed by the Chiefs earlier this week after Butker's injury. He has made 80.6% of his field goal attempts and 94.5% of his extra point attempts in his career.
Butker's injury is a significant blow to the Chiefs, who are looking to make a deep playoff run this season. Butker was one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL last season, making 94.1% of his field goal attempts and 100% of his extra point attempts.
The Chiefs will hope that Butker can return to the lineup as soon as possible, but they will have to rely on Ammendola to hold down the fort in the meantime.
Impact of Butker's Injury on the Chiefs
Butker's injury could have a significant impact on the Chiefs' offense. Butker is one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL, and his ability to make long field goals gives the Chiefs a significant advantage.
With Butker out, the Chiefs will have to rely on Ammendola, who is a less experienced kicker. Ammendola has made 80.6% of his field goal attempts in his career, which is below Butker's 94.1% success rate.
The Chiefs could also look to sign another kicker to fill in for Butker, but it is unclear if they will be able to find a kicker who is as accurate as Butker.
Chiefs' Kicking Options in Butker's Absence
The Chiefs have a few options to replace Butker while he is out injured. They could sign a veteran kicker, promote an undrafted free agent, or trade for a kicker.
Some potential veteran kickers the Chiefs could sign include:
- Kai Forbath
- Brandon McManus
- Matt Prater
The Chiefs could also promote undrafted free agent kicker Matthew Wright to the active roster. Wright was with the Chiefs during training camp and the preseason, and he made all of his field goal attempts in the preseason.
Finally, the Chiefs could trade for a kicker. However, it is unclear which kickers are available via trade, and it is unlikely that the Chiefs would be willing to give up much in a trade for a kicker.