Harrison Butker is having his absolute worst season as a kicker, already missing a career-high seven field goals this year, but Chiefs coach Andy Reid just told reporters he’s sticking with Butker as the starter. Reid’s betting on history, saying Butker has “done such a great job for us over time” and that sometimes you just “go through these little peaks-and-valleys things.” The coach plans to take it “week by week” and give Butker a chance to work through it.
The Kicks That Are Costing Games
This isn’t just about bad vibes, folks, it’s about missed points that are literally deciding outcomes. Butker is a brutal 12-of-19 on field goals in 2026. Remember that 28-24 loss to the Denver Broncos? Yeah, Butker couldn’t connect on a 54-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. That miss proved absolutely crushing, forcing the Chiefs to go for a touchdown on their final drive instead of just needing a field goal for the win. Then, even after they bounced back with a 35-12 victory over the New York Jets, the Arrowhead Stadium crowd let Butker hear it. He had a field goal sail wide right at the end of the first half, right after another attempt didn’t count because of an offsides penalty. You could feel the frustration from the fans, and honestly, who can blame them?
A Seven-Time Pro Bowler Is Waiting in the Wings
The immediate aftermath of the Jets game saw Reid being pretty noncommittal about Butker’s future, and now we know why: the Chiefs went and signed seven-time Pro Bowler Justin Tucker to their practice squad. That’s a major move right there. Tucker hasn’t suited up since the 2024 season, and ironically, he had his own rough patch that year, hitting a personal low success rate of 73.3 percent. The guy is 36 years old now, so there’s a real question if he’d even be that much of an upgrade right now. But with Butker’s struggles continuing to mount, missing kicks that directly impact game outcomes, you have to wonder how long Reid can keep kicking this can down the road. For now, Butker’s got every opportunity to get things right, but with a potential replacement like Tucker on the practice squad, the pressure is real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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