Chiefs safety Justin Reid is kicking extra points and kickoffs after Harrison Butker's injury
Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid kicked an extra point in the preseason this summer to showcase his bonafides as the team’s emergency kicker. In Week 1, the Chiefs found themselves in an emergency.
Primary kicker and 2019 NFL scoring leader Harrison Butker was carted off to the locker room after sustaining a first quarter injury, leaving Kansas City without one of the league’s top specialists. That pushed Reid into double duty. After Patrick Mahomes hit Clyde Edwards-Helaire on a three-yard touchdown pass to take a 13-0 lead, head coach Andy Reid cashed in his insurance policy and gave one of his starting defenders the chance to attempt a kick in a game that counts.
Reid didn’t disappoint.
He also handled the ensuing kickoff, which he blasted through the end zone for a touchback. Then he stayed on the field to shadow Kyler Murray and the Cardinals’ passing offense downfield.
Unfortunately, his second XP attempt sailed wide right, but it preceded another kickoff that resulted in a touchback. While he won’t get to cash two paychecks for that, it might give him a little extra leverage in his next contract negotiation.
Update: Harrison Butker is back and healthy enough to make a 54-yard field goal before halftime.
That’s probably it for the Justin Reid kicking experiment, but at least the Chiefs can feel like they’re in good hands if he gets hurt again.