The Kansas City Chiefs are feeling the heat with their kicker Harrison Butker, so much so that they just went out and signed former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. Why the sudden move? Well, it turns out Butker’s struggles have been pretty noticeable, especially after he shanked a 45-yard attempt wide right during Sunday’s tight loss to our very own Seattle Seahawks.
That Seahawks Game Miss Was a “Bad Miss,” Says Toub
Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub didn’t mince words this past Thursday, calling Butker’s miss against the Seahawks “a bad miss.” And honestly, we all saw it. “You’ve got to make the kicks,” Toub said. “The short kicks , that’s considered a short kick , you’ve got to make those in situations where it’s a tight game like that. It was an issue in that game, for sure.” That’s the kind of blunt honesty you need when your team loses and a kick like that factors into it. It really makes you wonder if that missed opportunity was a game changer for the Emerald City.
Tucker on Deck, Butker Tries to Get “Right”
Even with Tucker on the practice squad, it’s clear the Chiefs’ main goal is to get Butker back on track, not to immediately replace him. “Butker is our kicker,” Toub stated. “We’re trying to improve, we’re trying to get Butker right. That’s what this whole thing is about.” You gotta respect the commitment to their guy, especially after Butker showed up at Wednesday’s practice. He went 10-for-10 yesterday with Tucker standing right there, even in brutal 28-mile-an-hour gusts. Toub himself even admitted thinking, “This poor bastard,” before practice because of the crazy wind. It shows a tough mentality, but will it be enough to overcome the recent struggles and keep Tucker from ever stepping onto the active roster?
The pressure is seriously on Butker now. He’s got to prove that his practice performance can translate to game day, especially when the stakes are high. His performance against the Seahawks clearly lit a fire under the Chiefs’ front office, and you can bet every kick from here on out will be under intense scrutiny.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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