Tag: Harrison Butker

Raiders, Chiefs final Week 5 injury report: WR Hunter Renfrow returns

After missing 2 two weeks with a concussion, Hunter Renfrow is a go for Monday Night vs the Chiefs

There was a good deal of good news on the Raiders injury report this week. Namely those who were removed from it come the final designations.

Most notable is the return of Hunter Renfrow. The Pro Bowl slot receiver had missed the past two games with a concussion. He was a full participant in practice this week for the first time since week two and was removed from the injury report today.

Renfrow wasn’t the only starter for the Raiders to return from injury this week. Rock Ya-Sin — who missed the game against the Broncos with a knee injury — was also given a clean bill of health. As was Denzel Perryman who left the Broncos game before halftime with a concussion.

A surprise addition to the injury report this week was linebacker Jayon Brown, who missed the last two practices with a hamstring injury and has been ruled OUT.

Brown’s injury prompted the Raiders to sign Blake Martinez just days after having added him to the practice squad.

TE Foster Moreau was a limited participant in practice Saturday after missing the past two practices and the Broncos game with a knee injury.

The Chiefs will be without kicker Harrison Butker with an ankle injury.

Dave Toub provides latest update on Chiefs K Harrison Butker’s ankle injury

It looks like it’ll be more of Matthew Wright for the #Chiefs in Week 5 as Harrison Butker continues to deal with an ankle sprain.

Kansas City Chiefs K Harrison Butker will miss his second consecutive practice of the week on Friday. Things are shaping up for another week of Matthew Wright as Butker continues to nurse an ankle sprain suffered on a kickoff in Week 1.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke about the injury to his kicker on Friday. He explained that the injury was worse than they initially believed and they’re working to get Butker back to 100% before he makes his return.

“He tried to go (last week), but he was working on one-step (kicks), but he wants to have his full approach,” Toub told reporters. “He doesn’t want to use a half approach and I don’t blame him. He still has a lot of pain and he’s got swelling in that ankle. It was, evidently, a little bit worse than what you think. I mean, everybody heals differently and it’s just going to take time to get him back. Obviously, we want a full 100% Butker. Like I said before, we’ve got a long season to go, so we’ll be happy when he’s 100%. We don’t want to try to force him back and then all of the sudden get some regression. We definitely don’t want that. He has a lot of weeks in the bank healing and we’ve just got to get him over the top now.”

Having a backup like Wright, who made all of his seven kicks in Week 4, has Toub feeling comfortable in his decision to not rush Butker back. They want to ensure that Butker is available for the long haul.

“It does, it helps,” Toub said. “We’re not out looking for a kicker right now like we did last week. We like (Matthew Wright) and we like the job he did last week. Now, you’ve got to put it together and do it again. It’s about consistency.”

Toub was impressed with what Wright was able to do with the quick turnaround on a big primetime stage.

“Yeah, we had a little bit more time to work with (Matthew Wright) than we had the first time around with (Matt Ammendola),” Toub said. “I was really pleased with the way he’s handled it.  He’s got a really good mental aspect, I mean that’s what you find out. He kicked well in practice and stuff, but in the game being able to make seven (combined field goals and extra points). . . that was big on a ‘Sunday Night Football’ game.”

It seems the mental aspect is the biggest thing giving Toub confidence in Wright.

“Mental toughness is such a big thing for a kicker, it’s like a golfer making a short putt,” Toub said. “All of a sudden it becomes huge, you know, and he just did a good job in that game for us.”

They’ll look for a repeat performance from Wright against the Raiders on Monday night.

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Dave Toub provides latest update on Chiefs K Harrison Butker’s ankle injury

It looks like it’ll be more of Matthew Wright for the #Chiefs in Week 5 as Harrison Butker continues to deal with an ankle sprain.

Kansas City Chiefs K Harrison Butker will miss his second consecutive practice of the week on Friday. Things are shaping up for another week of Matthew Wright as Butker continues to nurse an ankle sprain suffered on a kickoff in Week 1.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke about the injury to his kicker on Friday. He explained that the injury was worse than they initially believed and they’re working to get Butker back to 100% before he makes his return.

“He tried to go (last week), but he was working on one-step (kicks), but he wants to have his full approach,” Toub told reporters. “He doesn’t want to use a half approach and I don’t blame him. He still has a lot of pain and he’s got swelling in that ankle. It was, evidently, a little bit worse than what you think. I mean, everybody heals differently and it’s just going to take time to get him back. Obviously, we want a full 100% Butker. Like I said before, we’ve got a long season to go, so we’ll be happy when he’s 100%. We don’t want to try to force him back and then all of the sudden get some regression. We definitely don’t want that. He has a lot of weeks in the bank healing and we’ve just got to get him over the top now.”

Having a backup like Wright, who made all of his seven kicks in Week 4, has Toub feeling comfortable in his decision to not rush Butker back. They want to ensure that Butker is available for the long haul.

“It does, it helps,” Toub said. “We’re not out looking for a kicker right now like we did last week. We like (Matthew Wright) and we like the job he did last week. Now, you’ve got to put it together and do it again. It’s about consistency.”

Toub was impressed with what Wright was able to do with the quick turnaround on a big primetime stage.

“Yeah, we had a little bit more time to work with (Matthew Wright) than we had the first time around with (Matt Ammendola),” Toub said. “I was really pleased with the way he’s handled it.  He’s got a really good mental aspect, I mean that’s what you find out. He kicked well in practice and stuff, but in the game being able to make seven (combined field goals and extra points). . . that was big on a ‘Sunday Night Football’ game.”

It seems the mental aspect is the biggest thing giving Toub confidence in Wright.

“Mental toughness is such a big thing for a kicker, it’s like a golfer making a short putt,” Toub said. “All of a sudden it becomes huge, you know, and he just did a good job in that game for us.”

They’ll look for a repeat performance from Wright against the Raiders on Monday night.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides injury updates ahead of Thursday practice

#Chiefs K Harrison Butker won’t practice on Thursday, plus some updates on players on the Reserve/PUP and injured reserve.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid gave his usual pre-practice injury update ahead of the team’s first practice of the week on Thursday.

After defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4, Reid only reported minor injuries. That tracks with the information he provided to reporters to start the practice week. The lone player set to miss practice on Thursday is starting kicker Harrison Butker, who is still dealing with swelling as the result of an ankle sprain suffered in Week 1.

“Really, the only person who won’t practice today is (Harrison) Butker,” Reid said. “He’s still working with that ankle sprain to get the swelling down.”

Reid added some more context on why Butker remains absent from practice.

“Normally, the sprained ankles don’t last long,” Reid said. “He’s just got some swelling in there that he’s got to get out. That’s where we’re at right now. It’s not that he doesn’t want to play.”

Matthew Wright, who filled in for Butker in Week 4, was 5-for-5 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals during the game (32 yards and 44 yards distance on the field goals). He also had eight kickoffs, six of which were touchbacks. Should the Chiefs need him to play in Week 5, they’ll be comfortable with him.

Reid also provided updates on two players who are on reserve lists. Lucas Niang is eligible to return to practice from the Reserve/PUP list this week, but Reid indicated that he’s not quite ready yet.

“He’s close, but not quite there yet,” Reid said of Niang. “I mean, he’s working through it. But he’s not ready (to practice).”

Another player who will be eligible to practice a week from now is rookie CB Trent McDuffie. Andy Reid is anticipating that he’ll be at practice next week.

“He’s doing great,” Reid said of McDuffie. “He’s got this week here and I think he’ll maybe get back in there next week.”

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Dave Toub optimistic Chiefs K Harrison Butker will return vs. Buccaneers

While Harrison Butker won’t practice Thursday, #Chiefs ST coach Dave Toub remains optimistic that Butker will be able to make his return from an ankle injury in Week 4 vs. the #Buccaneers.

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub is optimistic that Harrison Butker could make his return to action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4.

Butker participated in practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, but he won’t be practicing on Thursday. That isn’t because of any setback according to Toub, but it’s maintenance so they can ensure he’s ready to play on Sunday night.

“He had a real good one yesterday,” Toub said. “He came out and he kicked and then the other kid 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.”

While Toub’s comments would suggest that Butker will be a game-time decision, his optimism level hasn’t changed in the slightest. He knows that the soreness that Butker is experiencing is normal after having not kicked and done this type of work since Week 1.

“I’m not less optimistic, no,” Toub said. “He hasn’t done anything as far as kicking, as much kicking as we did yesterday, for a whole while now. That’s why he’s sore. It’s not unusual for him to be sore from the workout we did yesterday.”

Ultimately, the Chiefs will need some more information before they make their final decision on Butker for Week 4.

“Feedback from (Harrison) Butker,” Toub said. “We might kick him again before Sunday. We’ll test him again, but the other kid is doing well.”

Toub spoke about how they came to sign Matthew Wright to the practice squad and why they feel comfortable with him if Butker were to need another week.

“Well, we brought two guys in to work out and he was the one that was better,” Toub explained. “None of the two that we brought in were among the other six that we brought in two weeks before. These are different players that have more game experience. Matt did a real good job in his workout and he had a great (practice) yesterday (Wednesday).

Expect Matthew Wright to be a practice squad elevation given that the decision to make Butker active will come down to the wire.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides injury updates ahead of Wednesday practice

#Chiefs K Harrison Butker will practice in some capacity on Wednesday, but three other players will sit out to start the practice week.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid provided his usual pre-practice injury update on Wednesday.

The Chiefs managed to escape the Week 3 game with the Colts without any new injuries, which was one of the silver linings in the defeat. They’ll still have a trio of players out of practice to start the week, but they’ll also have one very important piece returning to practice in some capacity.

“As far as the injuries go, Michael Danna won’t practice today with a calf,” Reid began. “Mecole Hardman has a heel contusion that he’s been battling through. We’re going to sit him down today. I think he’s going to be OK, but we’re going to rest him today. Ronald Jones is sick today, we’re going to send him home and get him out of here.”

It’s unfortunate that Jones won’t practice, as he will be facing his former team this week.

Danna didn’t play in Week 3 and this is the fourth practice he’s missed since his injury. Hardman did try to tough out his injury in Week 3, but Reid said it may have impacted him a bit.

“I think the heel was affecting him a little bit this past week,” Reid said of Hardman. “Up to that point, I thought he was playing fast and running the stuff he was supposed to run and doing that.”

One player who was also impacted by an injury in Week 3 was LT Orlando Brown Jr., who was dealing with a knee issue. Brown Jr. will practice on Wednesday.

“I think it was bugging him a little bit last week,” Reid said of Brown Jr.’s knee. “But listen, like I said, we can all do better. He’s a pretty single-minded, focused individual. He’ll keep up his work, work hard, working to get better.”

As for the player returning to practice, Chiefs K Harrison Butker will be back out there to start the week. Expect it to be in a limited capacity as they ramp up his workload. He was said to be kicking with the training staff late last week.

“Harrison Butker will go ahead and do a little bit today,” Reid said. “We’ll just play it by ear with that as we go.”

The Chiefs do have a contingency plan in place, should Butker not progress in the way they’re hoping. They signed Matthew Wright to the practice squad on Tuesday and will get him adequate repetitions this week. As for the team’s confidence level in Wright, well, they’re still working through that.

“Yeah, listen I don’t know other than his workout out here,” Reid said of Wright. “I haven’t been in a game with him. He had a good workout yesterday and you hope that transfers in. He has some experience. Dave (Toub) took a look at that too.”

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4 ruled out, 1 questionable in Colts vs. Chiefs

Here are the players with injury designations for the Week 3 matchup.

The Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) released their injury report with designations Friday ahead of the Week 3 game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

In total, four players were ruled out due to injuries and one player is listed as questionable for the matchup. Here’s a look at the players with injury designations entering Sunday’s game:

Dave Toub provides update on Chiefs K Harrison Butker’s ankle injury

It sounds like it will likely be Matt Ammendola for another week as #Chiefs K Harrison Butker continues to nurse an ankle sprain.

For the second consecutive day of practice, the Kansas City Chiefs will be without starting K Harrison Butker due to an ankle injury.

Speaking to reporters ahead of practice on Thursday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub provided an update on Butker’s ankle injury and recovery.

“(Harrison) Butker is working his butt off,” Toub explained. “He is in there and he’s attacking (rehab) just like he attacks practice and everything else. That’s his personality. He’s doing everything he can to get back. Rick (Burkholder) and his staff are doing a good job of getting the swelling out. The swelling was really bad in his ankle, it went all the way up and the blood went all the way down to his toes. It was pretty ugly. So, they’re getting the swelling out of his foot. He just needs time to get that thing healed up.”

While Butker is clearly getting after it in the rehab process, even working on some kicks with Rick Burkholder and the training staff, the team is taking the cautious approach here. They want him as close to 100% as possible before he returns and that means getting all of the swelling out of his plant foot.

“It’s killing Butker,” Toub said. “He doesn’t like to miss anything. He certainly doesn’t want to see somebody else doing his job. He’s going to get back as soon as he can.”

While there is a slim possibility that Butker could get out there this week, it sounds as if it’s trending toward Matt Ammendola being the Chiefs’ kicker for another week. He made all of his kicks in Week 2 against the Chargers out at Arrowhead Stadium and he continues to build chemistry with his new teammates in practice.

“Matt (Ammendola) is here, he’s going through practice,” Toub said. “If (Harrison) Butker can’t go.

Should he play in Week 3, Ammendola will get the luxury of playing inside at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. In a short time, he’s developed quite a bit of trust with Toub, who says Ammendola has made kicks of 53, 56 and 60 yards in either practice or his tryout with the team.

“He’s got the range, he can do it,” Toub said of Ammendola. “We’ve got full confidence in him. He’s got a lot more reps with (Tommy Townsend and James Winchester), so he’s feeling more comfortable.”

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides injury updates ahead of Wednesday practice

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed that two players won’t practice as the team begins practicing ahead of Week 3 vs. the #Colts.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid provided his pre-practice injury report on Wednesday.

After several players were banged up during the Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, only one of the players injured during that game won’t practice at the start of the week. It also looks like the Chiefs could be trending toward another week of Matt Ammendola as their kicker.

“As far as injuries go, the guys that won’t practice today are (Harrison) Butker and (Mike) Danna,” Reid said. “Butker has the ankle (injury) and Danna has the calf (injury).”

Danna suffered a calf injury late in the Week 2 game against the Chargers. He was ruled out quickly, which is hardly a good sign. Kansas City also signed DE Benton Whitley to the 53-man roster from the Rams practice squad. That might indicate a long absence and perhaps an injured reserve stay for Danna.

As for Butker’s ankle injury, Reid spoke a little bit more about that situation.

“Yeah, so they’re tricky,” Reid explained. “I’m not necessarily saying that it’s a high ankle sprain, it’s (just) an ankle sprain. But it’s a matter of getting the swelling out and letting the tendons there heal up a little bit.”

Reid mentioned on Monday that the team was confident in Matt Ammendola, should they need to rely on him again in Week 3. He performed quite well in Week 2, making all of his kicks save for a poor kickoff late in the game.

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Chiefs should be comfortable playing Matt Ammendola again if Harrison Butker needs more time

If Harrison Butker is still dealing with swelling in his injured ankle, the #Chiefs should have no concerns relying on Matt Ammendola in Week 3.

If the Kansas City Chiefs need to stick with their backup kicker in Week 3, they should feel comfortable doing so.

Harrison Butker sat out with an ankle injury in the Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on “Thursday Night Football.” The veteran was replaced by third-year NFL kicker Matt Ammendola, who was signed to the practice squad just last week. Ammendola was elevated to the 53-man roster from the practice squad ahead of the game and played 11 snaps on special teams.

While Ammendola needed assistance finding the Chiefs’ locker room ahead of the game, he needed no assistance finding his way on the scoreboard. He made a 19-yard field goal to tie the game at 17 in the third quarter. He then made a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give Kansas City a 10-point lead, which helped the team maintain a three-point lead in the game. Additionally, Ammendola was a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points.

He wasn’t half bad in the kickoff game either, which is something he struggled with last season with the Jets. Ammendola had six kickoffs for over 300 yards in total distance. Four of them were touchbacks and two of them were returned for 42 total yards by Chargers WR DeAndre Carter.

This was about as flawless of a kicking performance as you could have as a backup kicker. While his distance certainly wasn’t tested, the Chiefs should feel comfortable and confident if they need to use Ammendola again in Week 3. The goal should be getting Butker as close to 100% as possible before they get him back out on the field again. It’s a little easier to do that when you can sign someone like Ammendola to come in and kick in a pinch.

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