Will Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker play playoff game against Texans?
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has lost a bit of his killer edge after picking up an injury and remains doubtful for the playoffs.
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Harrison Butker (Image via IMAGO)
One underrated aspect of the Kansas City Chiefs has been their kicker Harrison Butker. He played more than a significant part in Chiefs winning three Super Bowls in five years.
However, 2024 did not go according to plan for the 29-year-old. His field goal percentage (84%) and extra point percentage (93.5%)—both rank second lowest in his NFL career. The longest field goal Butker made this season was 53 yards.
The former seventh-round addition pick’s kicking routine came under ample scrutiny after picking up a meniscus injury that required a cleanup surgery. The Chiefs did not wait to put him on injured reserve and went through multiple kickers before his return in December 2024.
Harrison Butker misses wide left pic.twitter.com/ZCvOwd3SAP
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) January 5, 2025
Since his return, Butker missed two field goals and a 50+ yard extra point attempt against the Denver Broncos in week 18 which the Chiefs ended up losing 38-0. The result did little to affect the Chiefs’ season besides knocking the Cincinnati Bengals out of the competition. The Chiefs already secured the top seed in the AFC with 15 wins and a bye week, allowing Butker extra time to get healthier.
Will Harrison Butker play in the AFC Divisional round?
The Chiefs are set to face the Houston Texans who defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card. Now the question that many are asking is whether the Chiefs field less than 100% Harrison Butker with his choppy kicking routine.
He’s [Harrison Butker] just had surgery on that knee, we can’t forget that. I mean, it was a minor surgery, but still, it’s lingered a little bit.
David Toub said via Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports
#Chiefs STC Dave Toub is at the podium and says that K Harrison Butker had a really good day of practice yesterday, but mentions that we have to remember he had surgery on his knee: "I think it lingered a little bit. So it has changed up things a little bit."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) January 15, 2025
Toub further added that they will not change Butker’s kick technique. First of all, there’s no time to implement a new style, and second, it would be detrimental to the way the Georgia Tech graduate approaches every kick.
Butker took part in the training sessions this week. Toub revealed he looked better than the previous weeks. However, it will come down to the last second whether the Chiefs field him against the Texans.
If it comes to that, then head coach Andy Reid may call upon Matthew Wright for the playoffs. Wright filled in for Butker for a couple of games. It was Wright’s doinked field goal in the Chargers game that won the Chiefs the AFC West division, bagging the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
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Ishan Misra
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