The Kansas City Chiefs acted swiftly to address a key gap in their roster on Thursday, placing kicker Harrison Butker on the injured reserve list due to a left knee injury. Butker, who has been consistent this season with 18 out of 20 field goals, will undergo arthroscopic surgery, sidelining him for at least four games. The Chiefs wasted no time in signing a replacement, Spencer Shrader, off the New York Jets’ practice squad. This decision has left the Jets scrambling for alternatives as Shrader’s departure quickly followed news of Butker’s injury.
Despite the Jets’ efforts to retain Shrader, including offering him a spot on their 53-man roster, the 25-year-old opted to join the Chiefs, currently the NFL’s only undefeated team. Shrader’s decision underscores his desire to maximize his exposure, as he chose a four-game opportunity with Kansas City over finishing the season with the 3-7 Jets. For the Chiefs, his addition could be a solid short-term solution as they await Butker’s return, reported by the New York Post.
Jets’ special teams coordinator Brant Boyer praised Shrader’s talent shortly before the news broke. Reflecting on his performance in Week 10, where Shrader nailed both of his field goals and scored all of New York’s points in a 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Boyer said, “Kid’s got a lot of talent. I think he handled it well, doing what we asked him to do and syncing up with those guys and doing a good job in the game.” He added, “He’s a young guy that has shown that he’s got a really good leg. He had shown it in his college tape and his preseason stuff.”
Fans on social media had mixed reactions, some amused by Shrader’s departure from the struggling Jets. “Breaking news. Everyone is getting away from this organization as soon as possible,” one user commented, while another added, “Who can blame the guy? I wouldn’t want to be in a 15-mile radius of Florham Park if I’m a player.” Others supported Shrader’s choice, noting the value of the exposure he’ll receive with the Chiefs.
In Shrader’s absence, the Jets are expected to turn to Anders Carlson for kicking duties, making him the fourth player to take on this role in as many games. Carlson follows a string of kickers, including Greg Zuerlein, Riley Patterson, and Shrader, who have all briefly held the position.
As Shrader sets off on this new opportunity with Kansas City, the Jets will be working to stabilize their roster in hopes of salvaging their season. Meanwhile, Chiefs fans are eager to see what Shrader can contribute as they work toward maintaining their undefeated streak.