KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs are preparing Matt Ammendola as their kicker for this weekend’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts as Harrison Butker continues his recovery from a sprained ankle suffered in the season opener against Arizona.
“He’s not there yet, so it’s going to take some time,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub regarding Butker’s recovery.
Butker did not practice with the club again on Thursday with Ammendola handling kicking duties. Butker has been practicing with one-step kicks, an approach he used in making a 54-yard field against the Cardinals after suffering his injury. Toub believes Butker is talented enough with one step to be a better alternative than many other kickers with a regular motion
Still the teams remains focused on reducing the swelling from the sprain in Butker’s left plant foot before he returns to regular duty.
“The swelling was really bad in his ankle,” Toub said. “It went all the way up, and the blood went all the way down into his toes, and it was pretty ugly. They’re getting the swelling out of his foot, he just needs time, he just needs time to get that thing healed up.”
Without Butker, the Chiefs will lean on Ammendola, who hit field goals from 31 and 19 yards last week against the Los Angeles Chargers and was perfect on three extra-point tries. Toub said Ammendola hit a 56-yard field goal during his tryout with the Chiefs on Sept. 12 and hit 60-yard and 53-yard field goals in practice since then.
Defensive end Mike Danna, who suffered a calf injury against the Chargers, also is unlikely to play after sitting out Thursday’s practice.
Chiefs injury report
Did not practice: K Harrison Butker (left ankle) and DE Mike Danna (calf)
Limited participation: WR Mecole Hardman (heel)
Full participation: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hip), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder), WR Justin Watson (chest), LT Orlando Brown (knee) and RG Trey Smith (ankle)
Colts injury report
Did not practice: DE Yannick Ngakoue (back)
Limited participation: WR Michael Pittman Jr. (quad) and OT Bernhard Raimann (ankle)
Full participation: DE DeForest Bucker (hip), LB Shaquille Leonard (back), WR Alec Pierece (concussion, S Julian Blackmon (shoulder), LB Zaire Franklin (shoulder) and DT Grover Stewart (shoulder)
