After running a clinic on the Arizona Cardinals on opening day, the Kansas City Chiefs have sputtered in their last two games, stumbling to a 2-1 record following a surprising loss in Week 3 to the Indianapolis Colts last week.
As the team prepares for their primetime game on Sunday night against Tampa Bay, the Chiefs still aren’t back to full health. However, the Kansas City coaching staff has their fingers crossed that kicker Harrison Butker will be available this week after suffering an ankle sprain in Week 1.
“[Butker] had a real good one [on Wednesday],” said Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub on Thursday. “He came out, and he kicked, and then the other kid (recently signed kicker Matthew Wright) did well too. We’ve just got to wait and see. He’s a little sore today, so we’re not going to kick him today. We’re trying to get him ready for the game, so he’s going to listen to the trainers, and whatever they say, we’re going to do it. It’s going to come right down to the end when we have to make that decision on who is going to be up and who is going to be down.”
Butker did not practice on Thursday and Friday, but that’s not to say the Chiefs’ star kicker won’t be suiting up when the team takes on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Instead, the coaching staff is easing him back onto the field while also trying not to disturb the healing process and prolong the injury. On the Chiefs’ final injury report, Butker is listed as QUESTIONABLE, which indicates he may be a game-time decision.
If Butker isn’t ready, then recently signed kicker and former Jacksonville Jaguar Matthew Wright will fill in. He is replacing Matt Ammedola, who shanked a field goal and a PAT last week, robbing the Chiefs out of four points and leading to his release.
Butker wasn’t the only player on Kansas City’s injury report. On Wednesday, defensive end Mike Danna (calf), wide receiver Mecole Hardman (heel), Chris Jones (non-injury related), and running back Ronald Jones (illness) missed practice that day. But the latter of those players returned in some capacity on Thursday, except for Ronald Jones and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (abdomen), who were absent.
On Friday, everybody practiced except for defensive end Joshua Kaindoh. Later that afternoon, Kansas City ruled DE Mike Danna would be OUT against the Buccaneers.
Full Injury Report Below:
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
* DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related
