The Kansas City Chiefs made a move this week by signing kicker Spencer Shrader off the New York Jets practice squad. He’s stepping in as a temporary replacement for Harrison Butker, who’s out with a left knee issue and will be sidelined for about three to four weeks after undergoing surgery to trim his meniscus.

Shrader, who played college football at South Florida and Notre Dame, recently got the chance to kick for the Jets in their game against the Arizona Cardinals. He made both field goal attempts for the Jets’ only points in a tough 31-6 loss. After the game, he went back to the practice squad.

It seems like the Jets really wanted to keep Shrader, but he decided to join the Chiefs instead. Rich Cimini of ESPN shared, “The Jets, in an attempt to keep Shrader, did offer him a spot on the 53. He opted to go kick for an undefeated team, which is understandable.”

Before his injury, Butker had a solid season, making 18 of 20 field goals and 21 of 22 extra points. His performance was crucial in the Chiefs’ recent 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos.

The new kicking hope for the undefeated Chiefs

Now, it’s Shrader’s turn to step up to the plate for the Chiefs. He’ll face a tough challenge right off the bat as Kansas City (9-0) heads to Buffalo this Sunday to take on the Bills in what could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game. It’s going to be a game you won’t want to miss, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET.

It’s definitely a big opportunity for Shrader to showcase his skills on such a prominent stage. As Cimini also pointed out, “If he had stayed with the Jets, it might have turned into something longer.” But despite the short-term nature of his gig with the Chiefs, he’s making a bold move to kick for a top-tier team.

So, let’s keep an eye on Shrader as he steps into this high-stakes situation with the Chiefs. It’s an exciting time for him and for football fans eager to see how he performs in such a crucial role.