The Kansas City Chiefs are off to a scorching hot start despite dealing with a plethora of injuries at several important positions, including starting kicker Harrison Butker. While Kansas City has been able to survive several close games in 2024, the Chiefs have relied on Butker to make several clutch kicks throughout the team’s previous Super Bowl runs.
Let’s examine what happened to Butker, why he isn’t playing, and his potential return date for the Chiefs this season.
Why Isn’t Harrison Butker Playing?
Butker was kicking at a high level through Kansas City’s first nine games of the regular season. He made 18-of-20 field goal attempts and 21-of-21 extra point attempts in 2024. Yet he seemingly suffered a knee injury ahead of the Chiefs’ game in Week 11.
Kansas City was preparing for a monumental matchup against the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, when Butker suffered a meniscus injury that required surgery. The Chiefs officially placed Butker on injured reserve on November 15, ahead of the team’s game against the Bills.
Therefore, Butker will be eligible to return for Kansas City’s game against the Cleveland Browns. However, Butker underwent surgery to trim his meniscus and his return date is unclear.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was recently asked about Butker potentially being available to return in Week 15 against the Browns. While Reid believes Butker could potentially return in Cleveland, he understands that the 29-year-old kicker still has work to do.
“We’ll see how he does in the next week or two,” Reid said when asked about Butker’s potential availability in Week 15, according to Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.
Once Butker was placed on injured reserve, the Chiefs initially signed undrafted rookie kicker Spencer Shrader from the New York Jets practice squad.
Shrader made all three of his field goal attempts and all three extra-point attempts in his second game for the Chiefs, including a game-winning field goal against the Carolina Panthers. Yet he unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury during a private workout.
Shrader’s hamstring injury forced the Chiefs to place him on injured reserve, as Kansas City was forced to sign their third kicker of the regular season. Following Shrader’s injury, the Chiefs signed journeyman Matthew Wright to their practice squad.
While the Chiefs wait for Butker to return from his knee injury, Kansas City will continue to rely on the 28-year-old veteran kicker in Week 14. Wright got off to a strong start in his debut for the Chiefs in Week 13.
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Wright made 4-of-5 field goal attempts against the Las Vegas Raiders, as the Chiefs narrowly escaped with a 19-17 victory at home. Although Kansas City has been able to stay afloat with Shrader and Wright at kicker, they are eagerly awaiting the return of Butker.