Do the Kansas City Chiefs face a kicker dilemma as they approach the playoffs?While Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would likely dismiss such concerns, the issue looms over the team. Harrison Butker, who recently returned from a knee injury that had sidelined him for four weeks, has not performed at his usual level of reliability. Since coming back, he has missed two field goals and a long extra point attempt, including a crucial 51-yard field goal in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. This inconsistency raises questions about his readiness as the postseason begins.
Dave Toub previously mentioned that Butker would require a few weeks to get back to full strength after his return, and Reid’s recent statements suggest he is still on that path.”No, he’s working through that, and he’ll be fine,” Reid told reporters on Friday. “He’s just a hard worker. That’s what he does. He’s a perfectionist about everything, so he’ll continue to push himself. I believe he’s improving every day as he works through this.”Historically, Butker has been nearly flawless. Over seven postseasons, he has accumulated 158 career postseason points, successfully converting 62 of 65 extra point attempts and 32 of 36 field goals. However, this season has been statistically one of his weakest. His field goal percentage stands at 84%, and his extra point percentage is at 93.5%, both of which are the second-lowest in his career. Additionally, his longest field goal this season is only 53 yards, tying his rookie year for the lowest in his career.
It’s difficult to accept that the Chiefs have had three different kickers successfully make game-winning field goals this season, demonstrating that they can win without Butker. Spencer Shrader is currently on injured reserve with a calf injury, and Matthew Wright is a free agent. While Butker is still the top choice when healthy, his performance over the last four games hasn’t substantiated that claim.If Butker continues to show improvement in practice, the Chiefs are likely to stick with him. However, if his on-field results do not improve, it could become a significant liability for the team in the playoffs.