The Kansas City Chiefs will be without one of their steadiest performers for the next month with the news that heralded kicker Harrison Butker has injured his left knee.
NFL reporter Tom Pelissero reported that the Chiefs will likely be placing Butker on injured reserve, which will mean he's out for the next four games, including the team's much-anticipated showdown against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York on Sunday afternoon.
As for the reason for the injury announcement at the end of the practice week, NFL reporter Ian Rapoport explained it further.
#Chiefs K Harrison Butker is expected to have surgery to trim his meniscus in his left knee, per source. That's why he's headed to IR, though he'll be back for the home stretch and playoffs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 14, 2024
“Chiefs K Harrison Butker is expected to have surgery to trim his meniscus in his left knee, per source. That’s why he’s headed to IR, though he’ll be back for the home stretch and playoffs.”
Harrison Butker has collapsed on his left knee following through EVERY kick this season.
— Drew Butler (@DrewButler) November 14, 2024
It is a change in his technique that really caught my attention, and unfortunately it’s not surprising his left knee needs a meniscus procedure.
Hope he gets healthy. https://t.co/DsSVrKmFuz pic.twitter.com/1szLcRzQea
Harrison Butker injured his left knee this week and the team will reportedly send him to injured reserve.
The Chiefs have already identified a replacement for Butker in the short term with the signing of Spencer Shrader away from the New York Jets practice squad.
Butker has been a mainstay for the Chiefs ever since the team poached him away from the Carolina Panthers practice squad. The Panthers had invested a seventh-round choice in Butker back in 2019 but left him available, and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach took advantage of it after losing Cairo Santos to a groin injury.
Even after Santos returned, Butker maintained his starting role and never looked back. Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs re-signed Butker to his second contract extension with the team—a four-year agreement intended to keep Butker in place through the 2028 campaign. The deal was worth up to $25.6 million with nearly $18M of it in guaranteed money.
So far this season, Butker has converted 18 of 20 field goal attempts, including every try from 50 yards or below—good for 90 percent accuracy rate. Last season he set a career-high mark with 94.3% accuracy.
As for his replacement, Shrader is a South Florida product who transferred to Notre Dame for the 2023 season to show off his booming leg with a larger school. The move didn't lead to him being drafted, but he turned enough heads that he's landed with the Colts and Jets practice squads at different points since the draft.
The Jets leaned on Shrader last week in a 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but fortunately the kicker made both of this field goal attempts. Those are his only two FG attempts in the NFL.