1 week Ago By David Suggs
The Chiefs continue to captivate the NFL world, overcoming injuries galore to keep their place atop the NFL's totem pole. Their latest feat was perhaps their most daring. The unbeaten side miraculously outlasted Denver, 16-14, last week, swatting away a Wil Lutz field goal at the death to move to 9-0 on the year.
Kansas City received ample support throughout the duel. Patrick Mahomes impressed, Travis Kelce flourished and Chris Jones was a nuisance. And yet all three can't even claim the title of Kansas City's most important player in the game — because Harrison Butker launched a trio of FGs through the uprights to preserve the Chiefs' advantage.
Butker is one of the league's most notable kickers, parlaying his impressive skills with his right foot into a multi-year extension with Kansas City. And yet, after incurring an injury, that lively nine-iron will be especially quiet over the next few weeks. Here's the latest on Butker's injury status as well as a potential timetable for his return.
MORE: How Chiefs stayed perfect | Did Patrick Mahomes ask ref for help? | Taylor Swift meets with ref before Chiefs game What is Harrison Butker's injury? Butker is sidelined with an undisclosed injury to his left knee, the Chiefs announced Thursday. It's unclear when Butker suffered the injury. He found his target on all three field goal efforts he attempted in Kansas City's win over the Broncos in Week 10.
Butker has connected on 18 of his 20 field goal attempts thus far this season and accounts for more points (75) than the next three highest-scoring Chiefs players combined (72). His accuracy has been especially useful to a Kansas City side that has won seven one-score games this year. Butker has been as efficient as they come this season.
But that efficiency — and the technique that precipitated it — may have come at a cost. Former NFL punter Drew Butler highlighted Butker's tendency to collapse onto his left knee during field goal tries, a potential explanation for his injury, Harrison Butker has collapsed on his left knee following through EVERY kick this season. It is a change in his technique that really caught my attention, and unfortunately it’s not surprising his left knee needs a meniscus procedure.
Hope he gets healthy. https://t.co/DsSVrKmFuz pic.
twitter.com/1szLcRzQea NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Butker is expected to undergo surgery to repair his meniscus in the coming few days. Such a procedure will likely send him to injured reserve, although he should be back in time for the stretch run and postseason play.
WEEK 11 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers How long is Harrison Butker out? NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Butker is expected to miss up to four weeks as a result of his ailment. Indeed, he is slated to be placed on IR, a designation that carries a mandatory absence of four weeks. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker expected to miss 3-4 weeks (knee) and will go on injured reserve.
(via @TomPelissero , @rapsheet ) pic.twitter.com/IzZu6Q94FD Assuming Butker is sent to IR, he'll be eligible to return in Week 15 when the Chiefs match up against the Browns.
MORE: NFL playoff picture | NFL power rankings | Week 11 NFL picks | Week NFL picks against the spread Chiefs K depth chart Rank Player Name 1 Spencer Schrader 2 Justin Reid This story will be updated..
