Butker is undergoing surgery to repair the left knee injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Less than a day after the Kansas City Chiefs placed him on injured reserve, kicker Harrison Butker said he has already undergone surgery.

“The operation went very well!” Butker tweeted shortly after 10 a.m. Friday morning, “Thanks for the prayers (praying hands emoji)”

On Thursday, Butker was placed on injured reserve by the Chiefs with what the team said was a left knee injury. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said Butker would undergo arthroscopic surgery on the left knee, expecting surgeons to shorten his meniscus.

The 29-year-old Georgia Tech kicker is 18-for-20 on field goal attempts and 21-for-22 on extra point attempts during the 2024 season.

He made a game-winning field goal to help Kansas City beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. His final play of Sunday’s Week 10 win over the Denver Broncos was a bad kick on a late kickoff in the fourth quarter. The ball did not land in the designated landing zone, allowing the Broncos to begin their final drive from the 40-yard line.

With Butker out, Kansas City signed kicker Spencer Shrader from the New York Jets practice squad. He will take over for the Chiefs Sunday in a Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

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Safety Justin Reid, who has kicked for the Chiefs in both emergency situations and preseason, took to social media to debunk the belief he would take over a kicking role.

“Our new kicker will take on all kicking responsibilities, guys, but I appreciate the trust!” Reid wrote.

With Butker being placed on injured reserve, he will be out for at least the next four games. The earliest he will be eligible to return is Dec. 15 in a game in Cleveland.

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