Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has caught a lot of flak for his early-season struggles. So far this season, Butker has missed three field goals and two extra points. However, his most costly mistake was kicking the ball out of bounds on Monday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That blunder ultimately led to a Jaguars victory. That said, head coach Andy Reid doesn’t seem too concerned about the veteran. On Wednesday, Reid had this to say about Butker: “I think, like any golfer, sometimes you’re hitting it good, sometimes it’s off, but you work through it,” according to Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.
Andy Reid Isn't Concerned About Harrison Butker's Struggles
Reid allowing Bukter the benefit of the doubt is understandable. The 30-year-old has been nothing but reliable in the nine seasons he's spent in Kansas City. Even so, the struggles he has had early on this season could be detrimental if they continue.
Though most of his missed kicks this season haven't cost the Chiefs victories, one did. In Week 2, Butker missed a 58-yard field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles. While a 58-yarder is no gimme, the veteran has shown he can make those types of kicks in the past.
Even though Butker's kick wasn't the only reason Kansas City lost that game against Philadelphia, it was a factor. The difference between that error and what fans saw on Monday night is that Butker's kicking error was a major factor in the loss. Had he been able to keep the ball in bounds, Jacksonville would likely have had far worse starting field position, making it harder for the Jaguars to have scored a game-winning touchdown.
Instead, the veteran attempted to angle a kick and pin the Jaguars deep in their territory, but it failed. All these early mistakes have led some within Chiefs Kingdom to think about moving on from Butker. Reid's comments, however, don't give the sense that the team is too keen on doing that.
Therefore, the 30-year-old must fix the issues that have plagued him through the first five weeks of the season. If he is unable to do so, the Chiefs’ special teams unit may continue to cost them victories as the season progresses. This is something Andy Reid will want to avoid as Kansas City looks to defend its AFC crown.