The Kansas City Chiefs were starting to get some positive injury news lately with running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu both returning to practice this week.
They received some bad news on Thursday when it was reported that kicker Harrison Butker is expected to undergo knee surgery and is likely headed to injured reserve.
With Butker sidelined, the Chiefs signed Spencer Shrader off the New York Jets practice squad.
If Butker has to miss an extended period of time, that would be a major loss for the Chiefs, as he has been one of the best and most clutch kickers in the NFL over the past few years. He has made some huge, game-winning kicks and is as reliable as any kicker in the league.
Given how many close games the Chiefs play now, not having Butker could be the difference between winning and losing a game or two.
Butker has been the Chiefs’ kicker since the 2017 season. Over the past two seasons, he is 51-of-55 on field goals, including 7-of-9 on kicks of 50 yards or longer.
If the Chiefs have to turn to Shrader for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, it will be his third different team this season. He has also kicked for the Jets and Indianapolis Colts. He made his only two field-goal attempts of the season (both with the Jets) and all three extra points (all with the Colts).
He kicked for the Colts in their season-opening loss to the Houston Texans. He kicked for the Jets this past week in their 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, accounting for all of their points in that game.
