Down and beaten? That’s not for the players who are repping the red and gold. Getting dubs in the bag from the jaws of defeat, yeah, that has been the Chiefs’ theme this season. A 19-17 win against the Chargers, sealed with a last-minute field goal? Business as usual for the red and gold. And here’s the kicker (pun intended): Harrison Butker wasn’t even on the field. Matthew Wright stepped up, and the KC didn’t miss a beat.

But there’s some suspense brewing. Andy Reid hinted that Butker might return this week against the Browns, but nothing’s set in stone. Special teams practiced without him earlier, and while he’s been back in practice, Reid’s not ready to lock him in. The decision? Still up in the air for the Cleveland game. If you’re keeping track, that’s another week of uncertainty for the Chiefs’ kicking game.

So, what’s the plan? Well, as far as Wright is concerned, he has held his own in Butker’s absence. So far, so good… But there’s no true substitute for the Chiefs’ ace kicker. But Wright has done well, like we wrote. He has been 11 for 13 on field goals and 10 for 10 on extra points for 43 points in 4 games. Not bad for stepping into big shoes, right?

And then, there are Wright’s heroics against the Chargers… They did not go unnoticed, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Not bad for the Chiefs’ third kicker this season, huh? He joins Leo Chenal, who snagged the same award in week 10 for his clutch field goal block against Denver. Talk about stepping up when it matters!

Still, if you are Reid, you are scrambling to get your options sorted because it’s Harrison’s absence we are talking about. And literally scrambling. Heckling… That’s when this twist comes in—safety Justin Reid is set to handle kickoffs again this week. Yep, the same Reid who can crush a pigskin and lay down a tackle if needed. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub likes the idea. Reid’s versatility adds an extra layer of coverage on kickoffs, especially with the injury bug still circling.

I mean, it’s an idea, not the end of the world for the Chiefs side who are through to the playoffs already. Adapt and thrive… But you can bet, this move is to rely on dem Butker’s quads in the postseason, when Andy Reid and KC will require their most trustworthy #7 to come and seal the deal for them.

Harrison Butker: the game-killer for KC!

When Dave Toub said, “It’s going to be a little bit before [Harrison Butker] is 100%,” you could hear a bit of somber in his voice. And that vibe coming from a Special Teams coordinator? You can sense something’s down! Well, it is. We aren’t even going to sugarcoat it.

Harrison has had his downer moments, like his controversial speech (derogatory, some might say). But even the Chiefsdom has forgiven him. Why? For the simple reason: numbers don’t lie… Butker’s number will tell you he cooks, and that’s not an easy task as a kicker.

For placekicker, it’s never about the games/snaps, FUDGE THAT! They are chasing glories in moments. And Butker might just be the best glory-hunter in the dying moments. You can call him the guy… He’s got an 89.2% career FG percentage, the longest Super Bowl field goal at 57 yards, and oh yeah, 752 points in his career. Moments like these? He turns them into masterpieces.

Even in 2024, with the injury bug hovering, Butker’s been reliable. He’s nailed 90% of his field goals and hit 21 of 22 extra points. And if you’re thinking those fill-in kickers might take his job, pump the brakes. The Chiefs extended Butker with a four-year deal this summer for a reason—accuracy, reliability, and ice-cold composure.

Now, props to Spencer Shrader and Matthew Wright for stepping up during Butker’s absence. They held the line, proving the Chiefs’ depth. But let’s not kid ourselves. With the game on the line, Butker channels his inner prime. That’s something everyone in Kansas knows by now.