Harrison Butker has begun practicing as the 21-day window for his return has opened. Matthew Wright, who started a pair of games for the Kansas City Chiefs in Butker’s stead, is being released to make room for Butker’s return, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
This sets the stage for Butker’s return from injured reserve (IR) in Week 15 after a brief four-game stint.
Harrison Butker Begins Practicing as 21-Day Window Opens
Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Butker, who has been sidelined since Nov. 14 with a meniscus injury is listed as questionable to return to action on Sunday, but his return appears to be all but certain.
The Chiefs will release Wright ahead of their Week 15 game, and that opens the door for Butker to kick on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Butker is recovering from knee surgery he had last month. The Chiefs star kicker had his 21-day window opened this week as he returned to practice on Wednesday before the game. He was limited in all three practices leading into Week 15.
Earlier in the week, it looked like the Chiefs would be taking it easy with Butker and giving him more time to rehabilitate from his injury. However, his return for Sunday is all but certain.
Chiefs are releasing kicker Matthew Wright today, per source. Harrison Butker now is expected to kick Sunday vs. the Browns.
Life in the NFL: Wright was the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday, then released Saturday. pic.twitter.com/L2X7Mtt5fc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2024
Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub was not initially optimistic about Butker’s immediate return but was happy he was close to taking the field again.
“He looked good. We got to see how he responds. He’s going to kick again today, [so we’ll] put a little bit more on him,” Toub said during Thursday’s practice. “And I think he looks pretty good. We’ll see.”
Butker has helped the Chiefs win three Super Bowls including two straight as the Chiefs aim for the illustrious three-peat.
“If Harrison [Butker] is back, he’s back; I think he’ll get better as we keep him kicking more. He just started kicking again, as he’s starting to feel better, starting to get his power back, and it’s going to be a little bit before we, you know, he’s 100%,” Toub said.
“I’d say maybe two or three weeks, hitting the ground running [in] time for playoffs. So, we got him back on that horse and back out there and going again. I mean, he had surgery on his knee. So we have to remember that and manage him.”
Wright, who is being released ahead of Week 15, was the third kicker the Chiefs have turned to this season. Spencer Shrader, who took over after Butker went down, also landed on injured reserve.
Wright scored the game-winning field goal in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it gave the Chiefs cause for concern as it was a little too close for comfort. The ball hit one of the goalposts and bounced through the uprights to give the Chiefs the win and lock up the division title.
Butker gives the Chiefs an added insurance policy as he has leveraged his ability to make kicks in clutch situations as needed.
