Harrison Butker’s Latest Miss Puts Chiefs Kicking Job in Doubt as Justin Tucker Waits
The Kansas City Chiefs have a kicking problem, and Harrison Butker’s latest miss made it impossible to ignore. With 2:31 left in Denver and Kansas City leading by three, Butker pushed a 54-yard field-goal attempt wide right. Two plays later, the Broncos scored the go-ahead touchdown and went on to win 28-24 on Sunday, November 1, handing the Chiefs a second consecutive loss and the AFC West lead to Denver.
The miss that swung the game
Denver’s comeback turned on that kick. Kansas City had led 24-13 before the Broncos scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. After Butker’s miss, Denver took a 28-24 lead with 1:56 remaining, then stopped Kansas City four times inside the 10-yard line on the final series to seal the win. The result left Denver 6-2 and Kansas City 5-2, and gave Broncos coach Sean Payton his 200th career victory including the postseason. Kansas City also saw a potential game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Rashee Rice wiped out by a false-start call in the final seconds.
Butker went 1-for-2 on field-goal attempts in the game and did not hide from the miss afterwards. “Just completely missed the ball, didn’t even give it a chance,” he said. “It didn’t feel good off the foot. Just not good.” He also said the weather was not a factor.
A season of misses
The Denver miss was Butker’s sixth missed field goal of the 2026 season, tying the most he has ever missed in a single regular season. He missed five field goals in total last year. He entered the Denver game converting 68.8 percent of his field goals, the lowest rate of his career, after missing two kicks against Seattle on October 25.
Justin Tucker is waiting
That is why Justin Tucker’s presence matters. Kansas City signed the former Baltimore Ravens kicker to its practice squad on October 28. Tucker is a seven-time Pro Bowler who has converted 89.1 percent of his career field-goal attempts, although he made only 22 of 30 attempts in his final Baltimore season in 2024. He was released by the Ravens in May 2025 after allegations from 16 massage therapists, which he has denied, and he served a 10-game suspension in 2025 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
What Andy Reid has said
Chiefs coach Andy Reid had already warned Butker before the Denver game. Speaking on October 28, after the Tucker signing, Reid said Butker’s technique was off and added: “He’s struggled a little bit. He gets it. He needs to pick it up here a little bit.” Reid said Tucker was brought in for security because the Chiefs had an open practice-squad spot, and on the controversy surrounding Tucker he said: “He’s done his suspension. I’ll leave it at that for you.”
What happens next
Nothing in the reporting so far says Reid has decided to replace Butker. Tucker is on the practice squad, not the active roster, so any switch would still require a further move by the Chiefs. The next test comes quickly: Kansas City hosts the New York Jets next Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Another miss there would make the question Reid has so far left open much harder to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Harrison Butker under pressure? He has now missed six field goals this season, including a decisive 54-yard attempt in Denver, after entering that game at a career-low 68.8 percent.
Who is Justin Tucker? A seven-time Pro Bowl kicker, formerly of Baltimore, signed to Kansas City’s practice squad on October 28 as cover for Butker.
Has Kansas City replaced Butker? No. No report says a change has been made; Tucker remains on the practice squad.
