Report: Unvaccinated Kicker Harrison Butker Out for Chiefs vs. Steelers

The Kansas City Chiefs will be without kicker Harrison Butker for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Butker, who was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Monday, has not been vaccinated against the virus according to Rapoport and thus must sit out the mandatory 10-day period.

Players that have been vaccinated, presumably the other nine Kansas City players on the COVID-19 list, can return after consecutive negative tests.

The Chiefs signed kicker Elliott Fry to their active roster to replace Butker. Fry has spent time with the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, but kicked in just one NFL game with the Falcons last season. He made one field goal and was 1 for 2 on extra points.

At South Carolina from 2013-16, Fry made 75% of his field goals and 99% of his extra points.

Butker has hit 94% of his extra points and 90% of his field goals in five seasons with the Chiefs. He hasn’t missed a game since 2017.