The Kansas City Chiefs made a critical decision on kicker Harrison Butker on Wednesday amid a string of kicking luck for the team. The Chiefs have lived dangerously in the previous three weeks, defeating the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers by three points or less.

The Chiefs have relied on multiple kickers this season

The Chiefs’ 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers came via a walk-off field goal by Spencer Shrader, who was brought in to relieve Butker after Butker was placed on injured reserve for a knee injury. Shrader, a rookie out of Notre Dame, was placed on IR for a hamstring injury.

The Chiefs have relied upon Mathew Wright for their last two outings. He’s gone 8-9 on field goal attempts, including booting a 31-yard field goal to knock off the Chargers and help Kansas City clinch their ninth consecutive AFC West title.

Wright earned the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week award for his heroics against the Chargers.

They made the Wright choice 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Xrhcp40ZrI

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 11, 2024

The Kansas City Chiefs brought Harrison Butker back to practice

Despite Wright’s heroics, the Chiefs are wasting no more time letting Butker work his way back from the knee injury. The team opened Butker’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday. He was a limited participant in practice.

Butker signed a contract extension with the Chiefs that pays him an annual salary of $6.4 million. Kansas City will be depending on his leg for the playoffs.

Butker has made 18 of his 20 field goal attempts in 2024. He’s 2-of-4 from 50+ yards. He’s made 21-of-22 extra-point attempts.