Kansas City Chiefs Will Turn to Third-String Kicker Against Chargers on 'SNF'

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Having already qualified for the postseason for the 10th straight season (the longest active streak in the NFL), the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) still have plenty to play for as home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs remains up for grabs thanks to the pesky Buffalo Bills (10-2) and lingering Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3).

For the time being, Kansas City's push to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC will continue without the KC's No. 1 kicker as Harrison Butker is out at least another week with a knee injury.

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And, to add insult to Butker's injury, the Chiefs have sent rookie kicker Spencer Shrader to injured reserve due to the hamstring injury that caused him to miss last week's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Losing Shrader, who capped off his last appearance with a walk-off field goal against the Panthers, means the Chiefs will turn to third-stringer Matthew Wright on Sunday Night Football for a divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chiefs made it official that Wright, who missed one field goal but hit from 25, 42, 35, and 32 yards out on Black Friday against the Raiders, will kick for them again this weekend by signing the 28-year-old from the practice squad to the active roster on Wednesday.

A Pennsylvania native, Wright first kicked in the NFL in 2020 and has been with the Panthers, Jaguars, 49ers and Steelers (twice). He also enjoyed two separate stints with the Chiefs in 2022-23.

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Addressing the media about his team's kicking situation, head coach Andy Reid indicated Butker's rehab remains on-target and he could be back as soon as next week.

"Yeah, potentially, yes," Reid said on Wednesday. "I mean, he's doing good. We'll just see how it goes here in the next week or two, but he is making good progress, that's a plus."

Even if Butker isn't able to return, Reid sounds as if he has confidence general manager Brett Veach will keep him supplied with hired legs who can make kicks when needed.

"I always start with Brett and his crew bringing the guys in," Reid said. "One of the guys, we knew, so we had confidence there, but you're into your third kicker, so that's a little different. But I think it was good for Spencer to get in there and do his thing, he was productive before he got hurt, that was great for him and whatever lies in the future for him. Likewise, Wright, he'll go this weekend, so we'll see if he just continues doing what he's been doing. He's done a nice job for us."

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