New Chiefs kicker Spencer Shrader has a whole lot to gain and everything to lose in Kansas City
Kansas City Chiefs K Harrison Butker was officially placed on injured reserve on Friday, the same day he had his meniscus trimmed. The move cleared the way for the reigning Super Bowl champions to sign rookie K Spencer Shrader from the New York Jets practice squad. According to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Rich Cimini, the Jets attempted […]
Kansas City Chiefs K Harrison Butker was officially placed on injured reserve on Friday, the same day he had his meniscus trimmed. The move cleared the way for the reigning Super Bowl champions to sign rookie K Spencer Shrader from the New York Jets practice squad.
According to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Rich Cimini, the Jets attempted to block the Chiefs from signing Shrader, offering him a spot on their 53-man roster. Shrader declined and opted to join an undefeated Kansas City team looking to keep their streak alive against a bitter AFC rival.
Cimini suggested that had Shrader stayed with the Jets it could have turned into something long-term. However, Shrader chose to bet on himself. Sure, it's a gamble. But Shrader knew that joining the Chiefs was a golden opportunity to make his mark in the NFL and leave no doubt that he belongs.
With Butker heading to injured reserve, Shrader will be the team's primary kicker through Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Shrader will be relied upon in high-leverage situations over the next four weeks and can build upon an already flawless resume in the NFL.
Shrader can parlay the Chiefs' opportunity into a long-term job in the NFL
Schrader is a product of USF and Notre Dame, appearing in 57 career games in college. He was 156-of-158 on extra points and 43-of-63 on field goal attempts for a 68.3% average. After signing with the Colts following the 2024 NFL draft, Shrader has appeared in five combined preseason and regular season games between the preseason and the regular season.
The rookie has a combined 4-for-4 on his field goal attempts, including a 56-yarder. He's also a combined 7-for-7 on PATs. He's 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and 3-for-3 on extra-point tries in his two games with the Jets this season, with a 25-yarder and a 45-yarder made just last week with New York, filling in for the injured Greg Zuerlein.
Let's not forget that Shrader also has some experience with the new kickoff rules during the preseason and regular season. He'll be handling kickoff duties for the Chiefs as well. All eight of his regular season kickoffs have gone for touchbacks.
The decision to join the Chiefs also shows that Shrader trusts the Kansas City coaching staff to put him in a good position. They've got experience over the years with some flash signings at kicker. When Harrison Butker wound up on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in 2021, the Chiefs signed Elliott Fry to fill in. When Butker went down with an ankle injury in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, it was Matthew Wright and Matt Ammendola.
There's also a bit of a parallel with Butker's journey. The Chiefs signed Butker off the Carolina Panthers practice squad in 2017. He's since become a three-time Super Bowl champion, holding the record for the longest-made field goal in a Super Bowl (57 yards in Super Bowl LVIII) and the most career field goals made in Super Bowls (9).
Shrader might not have a long-term future in Kansas City with Butker recently signed to a four-year contract extension. However, he has a chance to develop his skills under Dave Toub, one of the league's best special teams coordinators. He'll get to learn from Butker. He'll also get a chance to set himself up to earn a Super Bowl ring, even if he's not with the team through Super Bowl LIX. Overall, he's betting he can show he deserves to be a team's starting kicker in the NFL. For the sake of the Chiefs, everyone with a rooting interest best hope that he is right. For his own sake, he needs this opportunity to work out because the NFL is unforgiving and doesn't give many chances to incoming kickers.