Tag: kicker

Will Harrison Butker play today? Injury updates for Chiefs kicker

#Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is dealing with a knee injury. Here are the latest updates. 

The Kansas City Chiefs were recently without starting kicker Harrison Butker for Weeks 11-14 while he was on injured reserve.

Ahead of their showdown with the Houston Texans in Week 16, Butker was listed on the Chiefs’ injury report.

Is Butker expected to play against the Texans?

Harrison Butker injury update

Earlier this season, Butker sustained a knee injury during practice that necessitated that he undergo surgery. He was briefly placed on Kansas City’s injured reserve list but was activated for the Chiefs’ Week 15 matchup against the Browns.

He was a full participant in all of Kansas City’s practices this week and will play against the Texans this afternoon.

How long will Harrison Butker be out?

While Butker is still listed on the injury report, he is not expected to miss any more games.

Chiefs kicker depth chart

Butker is Kansas City’s lone place kicker on the active roster. Spencer Shrader, who was signed to fill in for Butker, remains on the Chiefs’ injured reserve list.

Chiefs Dave Toub takes the blame for missed field goal vs. Browns: ‘That was my fault’

Kansas City #Chiefs Dave Toub takes the blame for missed field goal vs. Browns: ‘That was my fault’ | @EdEastonJr

Harrison Butker’s return last Sunday was an encouraging sign as he continues to regain strength ahead of the postseason. However, he missed a field goal in the victory over the Cleveland Browns, causing some concern that he may not be healthy enough to be in the lineup.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub immediately dismissed that as the reason and laid the blame on his in-game decision, which he explained to reporters on Wednesday.

“I’ll just talk about the miss. I need to do a better job of communicating with the holder and the snapper. You know that we were going to kick the field goal. I just assumed they were together, but they weren’t.” said Toub. “That was my fault. So I mean that that little bit of a change where Harrison’s panicking, where are they? You know? I mean that that has an effect.”

Butker returned after missing several weeks due to surgery on his non-kicking leg, and the Chiefs used two different kickers in his absence.

“So it wasn’t his injury. I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” said Toub. “I just think anything, anytime you get an operation out of sync, like that, whether they have to rush or somebody’s not there, it’s that puts a toll on it, and I think that’s what happened there, you know, I’ll take the glow I was my fault. Get those guys out there. I can’t assume that they’re right together.”

Butker will have a chance to redeem the miss this Saturday back home at Arrowhead Stadium.

Report: Chiefs to release Matthew Wright, clear way for Harrison Butker’s return

The Kansas City #Chiefs released kicker Matthew Wright on Saturday, clearing the way for Harrison Butker to return in Week 15.

According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs are set to release kicker Matthew Wright and welcome Harrison Butker back to their starting lineup in Week 15.

The news comes just a day before the defending Super Bowl champions’ matchup against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field and could have huge implications for Kansas City’s special teams unit.

Butker was placed on the Chiefs’ injured reserve list on November 15, and Kansas City initially signed kicker Spencer Shrader to replace him. Shortly thereafter, Shrader was injured, which led to the Chiefs’ decision to sign Wright in Week 13.

Wright was nearly perfect on his field goal attempts through two games in Kansas City, missing just one attempt in nine three-point tries.

Butker’s return to the starting lineup should prove to be a boon for Dave Toub’s special teams unit as the Chiefs make their push toward January’s AFC playoffs.

Wisconsin kicker departs transfer portal, returns to the Badgers

Wisconsin kicker departs transfer portal, returns to the Badgers

Wisconsin kicker Gavin Lahm has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will return to the Badgers, according to his recent post on X.

The former walk-on is one of 19 Wisconsin players to enter the portal. He joins wide receiver Trech Kekahuna in returning to the school.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Lahm joined the program as a walk-on in the class of 2022. He has operated as its kickoff specialist over each of the last three seasons, notching a 49% touchback rate (67 of 135) with a net average of 62.2 yards. The veteran kicker also tallied a solo tackle in 2024.

Lahm likely entered the transfer portal looking for an opportunity to start at placekicker. That position has been held throughout his time with the Badgers by Nate Van Zelst/Vito Calvaruso in 2022 and then Nathanial Vakos in both 2023 and 2024.

While Vakos is set to return for 2025, he made just 63.2% (12 of 19) of his kicks in 2024 after a terrific 2023 campaign. He was inexplicably 6-of-13 from 30-to-49 yards but 3-of-3 from beyond 50.

Vakos figures to start again in 2025. But that sub-par 2024 campaign could open the door for a competition at the position.

Lahm returns to the Badgers with one year of eligibility remaining.

Bookmark our transfer departure tracker for up-to-date information on Wisconsin’s transfer movement and where former Badgers are headed.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Chiefs Dave Toub reveals injury recovery timeline for Harrison Butker: ‘He just started kicking’

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub reveals injury recovery timeline for Harrison Butker: ‘He just started kicking’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke with reporters on Thursday about kicker Harrison Butker’s injury recovery progress.

“He looked good. We got to see how he responds. He’s going to kick again today.” said Toub. And put a little bit more on him. And I think he looks pretty good. We’ll see.”

The Chiefs have managed well without Butker, utilizing Spencer Shrader and Matthew Wright in his place. The latter won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“If Harrison (Butker) is back, he’s back; I think he’ll get better as we keep him kicking more. He just started kicking again, as he’s starting to feel better, starting to get his power back, and it’s going to be a little bit before we, you know, he’s a hundred percent,” said Toub. “I’d say maybe two or three weeks, hitting the ground running time for playoffs. So, we got him back on that horse and back out there and going again. I mean, he had surgery on his knee. So we have to remember that and manage him.”

Butker had successful knee surgery last month and is returning to playing shape for the postseason. The Chiefs hope he will bring the consistency and strong leg that have helped them capture three Super Bowl titles.

Will Harrison Butker play this week? Injury updates for Chiefs kicker

Kansas City #Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is dealing with a knee injury. Here are the latest updates. 

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker returned to practice this week after spending time on the team’s injured reserve list.

In Butker’s absence, the Chiefs have relied on two kickers—Spencer Shrader and Matthew Wright—to lead their special teams unit.

Will Butker be available for Kansas City’s Week 15 matchup against the Cleveland Browns?

Harrison Butker injury update

Butker was a limited participant in the Chiefs’ practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. He does not yet have a game designation.

How long will Harrison Butker be out?

Though Butker could be activated at any time, it seems likely that Kansas City will continue to rely on Wright until he returns to full participation in practice.

Chiefs kicker depth chart

Wright is currently the Chiefs’ starting kicker while Butker remains on Kansas City’s injured reserve list. When Butker returns to the field, Wright will likely be waived and may have a chance to return to the Chiefs’ practice squad or be picked up by another team.

Chiefs K Matthew Wright earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after game-winning field goal

Kansas City #Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after game-winning field goal | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs thrillingly escaped Week 14 with their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, clinching a ninth straight AFC West division title. Kicker Matthew Wright’s dramatic game-winning field goal and contributions throughout the game sealed the impressive home win.

For his efforts against Los Angeles, Wright earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, an unexpected accomplishment from the Chiefs’ third kicker this season playing above expectations. He is the second Kansas City player to win in the special teams category following Leo Chenal’s Week 10 performance, blocking the potential game-winning field goal against the Denver Broncos.

Wright converted all four field goal attempts, including the game-winning 31-yard field goal, with no time remaining on Sunday Night Football. This is the second-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Wright, becoming the second Chiefs kicker to win the honor in the past 10 seasons, joining five-time winner Harrison Butker.

Wright becomes the second former UCF kicker to win multiple Special Teams Player of the Week awards, joining 15-time winner Matt Prater. Since replacing injured kicker Spencer Shrader in the lineup, Wright has stepped into clutch scenarios for Kansas City and has delivered, keeping their top AFC record intact.

Chiefs special teams standout doesn’t see himself as a third-stringer

Kansas City #Chiefs standout Matthew Wright doesn’t see himself as a third-string guy | @EdEastonJr

In his second game with the Kansas City Chiefs this season, kicker Matthew Wright went four-for-four on field goals and added one PAT for 13 total points in the 19-17 Week 14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The consecutive impactful performances have highlighted the well-traveled kicker.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responded to a media question on Monday that Matthew Wright does not want to be viewed as a third-string guy during his weekly Zoom press conference.

“Yeah, I think he’s (Matthew Wright) got a quiet confidence about him. I think he realizes that he’s a legitimate kicker; at least, that’s the persona he presents to everybody.” Reid said. “I think all (of) the guys on the team have confidence in him. We’re not sitting there going, ‘Hey listen, we have some guy that’s never done this before and doesn’t have a track record with us.’ He comes in, and he just goes, ‘Okay, line me up, and let’s go.”

Wright connected on a doink off the goalpost 31-yard game-winning field goal with one second left on the clock to seal Kansas City’s victory over the Chargers and claim their ninth-straight AFC West division title. He added field goals from 47 yards, 33 yards, and 50 yards in the win. His four field goals tie a single-game career-high.

Steelers K Chris Boswell should win 2024 fantasy football MVP award

Chris Boswell’s historic 2024 season is shaking up fantasy football, outscoring top TEs and propelling many fantasy teams to the playoffs

Sorry, WR Ja’Marr Chase, while your fantasy football points scored are impressive, one kicker has turned many fantasy football leagues upside down.

Steelers K Chris Boswell, AKA the ‘Wizard of Boz,’ is not only putting together a historic NFL season with 36 field goals made through 13 games played, but his fantasy football points are also off the charts!

ESPN compiled a list of which players belong to the most fantasy football playoff teams in 2024, and Boswell ranks 24th, above huge fantasy football names like WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Puka Nacua, WR A.J. Brown, QB Jayden Daniels, and TE Travis Kelce.

One of the most surprisingly true statistics in all of fantasy football is that Boswell is currently beating out all TEs for points scored in standard and half-PPR Sleeper fantasy football leagues.

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No one can deny Boswell’s elite kicking prowess on gameday, but no one could have predicted the impact he would have on the world of fantasy football in 2024.

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Blake Grupe has already made Saints history in Year 2

Blake Grupe has been sharp from long range since entering the league. He’s the only Saints kicker to hit this impressive milestone:

Blake Grupe’s performance this year has flown under the radar. Not only has the second year player been a more accurate kicker than he was his rookie season, Grupe has also shown good range in 2024.

This may feel hyperbolic, but Grupe has literally made history in his first two seasons. In his first year, he was the first kicker in New Orleans Saints history to make five or more field goals from at least 50 yards in a season, with six of them on nine tries. He’s done it again in Year 2, going five-for-five.

It’s extremely impressive because Morten Andersen and Wil Lutz are former Saints with strong resumes, but neither of them hit this one particular milestone. Grupe has done it twice.

To add to this feat, the kicker hasn’t missed from 50-plus all season long.

Let’s take a deep breath and hope the writer’s jinx doesn’t come into play against the New York Giants.

Grupe’s year has been defined by efficiency and range. He’s delivered both simultaneously on five different occasions. He opened the season with a career long of 57 yards against the Panthers. Grupe’s overall percentage of made field goals has jumped by nearly 10 percent as well. He’s earned some confidence during his brief time on the job, let’s hope he keeps it up.

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