Absent for four weeks with a sprained left ankle, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a memorable return last week against Buffalo.
Butker kicked a franchise-long 62-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first half in the Chiefs’ 24-20 loss to the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.
“It’s super exciting,” Butker said Wednesday of his 62-yarder. “I was going through seeing all the other kickers who have made from 60-plus. It’s a special number.
“The kicking game is evolving. You’re seeing more and more kicks from 60-plus yards, which is a great thing, and I think all the offensive coaches are really happy about it.”
Butker’s 62-yarder was his first field goal since he sprained his ankle in Week 1 at Arizona. Safety Justin Reid filled in for Butker initially that game until Butker returned and played through the pain using a one-step approach on field goals instead of his normal two steps. However, continuing to kick with just one step wasn’t the best long-term approach so he rested and rehabbed vigorously.
Now back and healthy, Butker said dealing with an injury for that length of time was a “good learning experience” for him and now he hopes to finish the season strong.
“Just making the next kick,” Butker said. “But I’d love to keep getting some longer kicking opportunities and hopefully break that NFL record.”
The longest kick in NFL history belongs to Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, who made a 66-yarder last season. Butker said Tucker had not reached out to congratulate him on his Chiefs’ franchise record, but said Tucker texted him after the Chiefs defeated the Bills last year in the playoffs.
But for now, Butker is focused on staying healthy and getting ready for Sunday’s road game against the 49ers.
“I wanted to make sure I was able to play a whole game without getting any setbacks and I was able to do that,” Butker said. “So I was really happy with going into the game kicking relatively well, then waking up Monday still feeling good and ready for a good week of practice.”
