Harrison Butker misses Chiefs practice with back spasms
By Matt Conner
Kicker Harrison Butker was missing from practice for the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday after suffering back spasms.
The Kansas City Chiefs were back at practice on Wednesday as they prepare to visit the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday afternoon. However, one specialist was missing from the mix as kicker Harrison Butker dealt with back spasms that kept him out.
Since Butker missed practice on Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid mentioned that the team might be bringing in an extra kicker in case the spasms are still affecting him into the weekend. It was a move, Reid said, that would only based in security for the team when it came to injury and not in response to his recent miscues.
The Chiefs have struggled on special teams all season, which has led to missed field goals and extra points (not to mention poor tackling versus opponents or multiple fumbles for K.C.). Specifically for Butker, he’s been uncharacteristically off this season and a lot of fans in Chiefs Kingdom wonder if injury has been behind them all, especially since he began the year with a sprained ankle on his plant foot.
The Chiefs turned to replacement kickers for a couple of weeks in the first half of the year but the results were middling at best. Matthew Wright and Matt Amendola were both just as inconsistent and that was without any injury excuse.
The Chiefs injury report will be one to watch this week as the team waits on Butker’s availability. The same can be said for other injuries to wideout Skyy Moore, left guard Joe Thuney, and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
The Raiders host the Chiefs on Saturday, January 7, at 3:30 C.T.