Chiefs could have choice of kickers when facing Chargers in Week 14

With three kickers in three weeks, the Kansas CIty Chiefs are becoming used to bringing in a new face with each passing game. As those options get healthier, however, the Chiefs will soon find themselves with a group of specialists stacking up—at least until Harrison Butker is ready.

On Friday, the Chiefs leaned on Matthew Wright after a short week of rest to help put away the visiting Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13. Wright was the latest signing to make up for the short-term loss of Spencer Shrader who—you guessed it—was only here for a short time to make up for Butker's absence due to injury.

The Chiefs have a few things to sort out at kicker in the next few weeks.

Now with a few extra days off following the game played on a Friday, the Chiefs will likely have enough time for Shrader to recover from the hamstring injury that sidelined him in practice leading up to the Raiders' contest. And that will leave the Chiefs with a choice of who to send out in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Wright is the known commoditiy as a veteran who has played for numerous NFL teams over time, including the Chiefs in two separate stints already. In one of those, he set a franchise record with a 59-yard make against the Raiders (though Butker broke that record a bit later with a 62-yard conversion).

Shrader is the younger player who is likely atop Dave Toub's list of kickers he'd want to bring in if something happened to Butker for a longer amount of time. Every team has updated lists of emergency contacts in time such as this and the Chiefs are well known for being able to maintain excellence in their specialist roles (just look at the way Matt Araiza has replaced Tommy Townsend).

Shrader made all three of his field goal attempts in his second appearance with the Chiefs, and that includes a game-winning kick to defeat the Carolina Panthers on the road. It would make sense to stick with Shrader, assuming he's healthy, since he was the franchise's first known call after losing Butker.

Then again, it won't matter too much in the bigger picture because Butker should be on the mend following surgery for a meniscus. He's already missed games against the Bills, Panthers, and Raiders, which means the Chargers game is the last he must sit out for being on injured reserve.