Kansas City Chiefs star kicker Harrison Butker has been taken off the injured reserve list and will play against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15, per NFL Insider Tom Pelissero. This comes after recent reports that he would be out of commission for several more weeks, indicating a change in strategy for the team.
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Last month, the Chiefs were forced to place Butker on injured reserve after he suffered a meniscus injury. In the aftermath, the team signed Spencer Shrader, who also ended up on injured reserve, and Matthew Wright as temporary replacements.
Wright made a dramatic field goal as time expired to secure a win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. However, the kick caused some anxiety among Chiefs fans as it hit the left upright before going through. Fortunately, Butker was back on the practice field this week, providing a sense of relief.
Since joining the NFL in 2017, Butker has been the third-most accurate kicker in league history, behind Justin Tucker and Eddy Pineiro, making nearly 90% of his attempts. This year, he’s converted 18 of 20 field-goal attempts, including a clutch 51-yard field goal to give the unbeaten Chiefs a 26-25 victory over the Bengals.
Despite his return to practice, special teams coordinator Dave Toub stated earlier this week that it will still take some time before Butker is fully recovered. Toub noted, “If Harrison is back, he’s back… It’s going to be a little bit before he’s 100%, maybe 2-3 weeks… We’ve got to get him back out on that horse.”
However, that appears to have abruptly changed.
At the same time, NFL Insider Adam Schefter revealed that Wright is now being released, saying “Chiefs are releasing kicker Matthew Wright today, per source. Harrison Butker now is expected to kick Sunday vs. the Browns. Life in the NFL: Wright was the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday, then released Saturday.”
Chiefs are releasing kicker Matthew Wright today, per source. Harrison Butker now is expected to kick Sunday vs. the Browns.
Life in the NFL: Wright was the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday, then released Saturday. pic.twitter.com/L2X7Mtt5fc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2024
It is probably safe to say that Butker’s accelerated recovery and the release of Wright are connected, but it remains to be seen how the veteran kicker performs against the Browns tomorrow.
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The Chiefs are currently 12-1 and have already secured the AFC West title. Now, their focus shifts to locking down the No. 1 seed in the conference, which would give them home-field advantage and a first-round bye. The return of Butker to the lineup will be a key factor in helping them achieve that goal.
While the Chiefs have managed to win a number of close games this season, their ability to pull out victories in tight situations has been impressive. The offense has been hampered by injuries, which is likely contributing to these close scores. With Butker expected to return as 2024 comes to a close, his presence will provide a much-needed boost to the team as they head into the final stretch of the season.
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