The Kansas City Chiefs are hitting the halfway mark of their 2026 NFL regular season in Week 9, and while they gear up to face the New York Jets, one unexpected story is dominating the conversation: their historically clutch kicker, Harrison Butker, is suddenly missing more kicks than any other active kicker in the league. This isn’t just a tough stretch; he is costing his team every single week, and for a guy paid as much as he is, that’s a problem that needs to be fixed, pronto.
Who’s Heating Up in Kansas City?
Despite the kicking woes, not everything is a mess in Kansas City. Some players are absolutely showing out as the season wears on. Running back Emmett Johnson introduced himself to the NFL in a big way during the loss to the Denver Broncos. He was the absolute star, stepping up as both a complementary back and a kick returner. This dude is elusive, explosive, and brings some serious high energy. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and break off huge plays. You gotta wonder if they’ll start sharing touches with Ken Walker or even put both of them on the field at the same time. Plus, if they let him, he could absolutely be *the* guy on kick returns.
Then there’s Rashee Rice, the current #1 wide receiver on the roster. Yeah, the Broncos defended him well in both games, but the arrow is pointing up for him. This is still a 1,000-yard-type guy if he can stay on the field for a full season, and Patrick Mahomes desperately needs a reliable target who can get serious YAC. Rice is perfect for that role, and he’s probably as hungry as he’s ever been. Don’t be shocked if he blows up for over 100 yards this week or next.
On defense, rookie edge rusher R Mason Thomas has that feeling like he’s about to take off. He already leads the team in pressure rate and is second in sacks, even if he only has one right now. His snap share dropped the last two games, which coincided with the pass rush struggling in both losses. This guy might be one of those players who gets quarterback sacks in bunches, and the team needs him to step up. Watch his role this weekend to see if it’s bigger. Others trending in the right direction include Mansoor Delane, George Karlaftis, Kahlil Benson, Cyrus Allen, Nohl Williams, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillotte, Andrew Armstrong, and Chris Roland-Wallace.
The Players and Coaches Facing Midseason Pressure
Now, let’s talk about the cold truth. Beyond Butker’s inexplicable slump, some other Chiefs are facing serious questions. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy, their recent first-round pick, is struggling. He has elite ability, no doubt, but his execution and awareness have been, well, suboptimal. The Chiefs allegedly being aggressive in the wide receiver market is not a good sign for how they view their investment in him. How long until they just make him a jet-sweep or tunnel-screen gadget guy only? My hope for a breakout season for him is definitely dwindling.
And it’s not just players. Offensive line coach Andy Heck has to shoulder some of the blame alongside head coach Andy Reid for the struggles up front. Not only has the O-line struggled, but they just haven’t built enough depth to get through a full season. That’s a massive problem that falls squarely on his shoulders.
The Chiefs are heading into their Week 9 matchup against the New York Jets needing to figure out these issues. Can they turn things around and get the “Bears” moving back in the right direction, especially their kicker? Their season’s trajectory will hinge on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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