The Chiefs are rolling into Week 10 with the same kicking question that has followed them for most of the season, and Andy Reid is not making a change yet.
Harrison Butker will remain Kansas City’s kicker against the Atlanta Falcons, even after another uneven stretch that has put his job under a bright spotlight. Butker missed two field goal tries in the Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, then came back in Week 8 and missed a costly 54-yard attempt late against the Denver Broncos. He was still in the lineup the next week, and in Kansas City’s 35-12 win over the New York Jets, he missed his only field goal attempt.
That leaves Butker at 63.2% on field goals this season, but Reid said Wednesday he’s staying the course. “I’m going to stick with Butker,” Reid told reporters Wednesday.
The Chiefs did add another name to the mix when they signed All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to the practice squad, which had plenty of fans expecting a switch. But there’s no guarantee Tucker gets the call.
Tucker, who made 417 of 468 field goal attempts during his run with the Ravens, was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists. He denied any wrongdoing though.
“I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider,” Tucker told OutKick. “I absolutely respect the massage therapy profession and more so the individuals who work as massage therapists.”
For now, Butker keeps the job. If Sunday in Atlanta goes poorly, Week 11 could finally bring a different answer.
In Other News...
Falcons Defense Faces A Brutal Mahomes Problem This Week
Patrick Mahomes spent the week listed with an elbow strain and sprain, but he practiced fully and is expected to be out there in Week 10 when the Falcons meet the Chiefs. For Atlanta, that changes the conversation from whether Kansas City might be shorthanded to how much damage Mahomes can still do even while working through an injury, especially against a defense that has to be ready for the speed and rhythm of the Chiefs passing game.
The challenge gets even trickier because Kansas City does not need to lean on one thing to move the ball. Kenneth Walker III gives the Chiefs a strong ground element, while Mahomes and the passing attack can still stress a defense with quick throws and yards after the catch. For the Falcons, the problem is less about one matchup and more about surviving the full menu of what Kansas City can throw at them. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Drew A Hard Line In Their Rebuild
The Falcons were willing to make real moves at the NFL trade deadline, sending away key starters Jessie Bates III and Ryan Neuzil as they continue reshaping the roster. But the front office also made clear there is a difference between retooling and tearing it down, and some names were never part of the conversation in the same way. Atlantas approach suggests a rebuild with boundaries, not a full-scale purge.
One of those boundaries was Bijan Robinson. The Giants reportedly checked in on the running back, but Atlanta never seriously entertained the idea of moving him, a sign of how firmly the team views him as part of its long-term core. For a franchise trying to build around young talent, keeping Robinson out of the deadline churn says plenty about where the Falcons believe their foundation already is. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Opened A Huge Opportunity For DeMarcco Hellams
Jessie Bates IIIs move to Jacksonville leaves a clear opening in the Falcons secondary, and it puts DeMarcco Hellams in the spotlight at a time when Atlanta is looking hard at its younger defensive backs. With the veteran safety gone, the coaching staff has already pointed to Hellams as the next man expected to step in, giving the former rookie a chance to turn a limited role into something much bigger down the stretch.
For Hellams, the timing matters. He is in the final year of his rookie contract and has seen only limited defensive work this season, but the vacancy at safety changes the conversation around his place on the roster. Atlanta now has a real reason to see what it has in him, and the next stretch of games could go a long way toward showing whether he can handle a larger defensive workload. [Read more 🡒]