Chiefs’ Butker Faces Scrutiny as Playoffs Loom After Injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for their divisional-round playoff clash against the Houston Texans on Saturday, but questions linger about the reliability of kicker Harrison Butker as the team eyes a historic three-peat.

Butker, who underwent knee surgery in mid-November to repair a meniscus injury, has struggled since returning in Week 15. In four games back, he has missed two field goals and an extra-point attempt, raising concerns about his consistency heading into the postseason. His recent performance has even prompted head coach Andy Reid to opt for punting over a 57-yard field goal attempt in a recent game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“When Butker is healthy, I have zero concern about him — from any distance,” said Chiefs analyst Mark Gunnels. “But since returning from injury, the future Hall of Fame kicker has been iffy, to say the least.”

Despite the struggles, there are signs of improvement. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub reported that Butker had a strong practice on Tuesday, showing his “old power.” However, Toub cautioned that the kicker is still recovering from surgery and will need to prove himself in game-like conditions. The team plans to test Butker’s readiness by having him kick outdoors at Arrowhead Stadium on Wednesday.

Butker’s track record offers some reassurance. Over the past eight seasons, he has established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers, boasting a 94.3% field goal accuracy in the 2022 regular season and a perfect 11-for-11 record in last year’s playoffs. His career playoff accuracy of 88.9% remains a bright spot for Chiefs fans.

Meanwhile, speculation about the return of wide receiver Rashee Rice has been dismissed by Gunnels. Despite a viral video showing Rice working out, Gunnels stated, “If the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl, there’s no way he’s playing.”

As the Chiefs prepare for their playoff run, all eyes will be on Butker to see if he can regain his form and help the team secure another championship.