Breaking News: NFL Replaces Chief Harrison Butker on kickoffs with Justin Reid.

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said last week the team was open to trying out safety Justin Reid as their primary kicker on kickoffs this season instead of Harrison Butker. Reid seems excited at getting the new opportunity.

Harrison Butker is getting replaced on kickoffs

As previously discussed on GH, Toub said he wanted to use Reid on kickoffs this season instead of Butker because the Chiefs don’t want their petite kicker getting injured trying to make a tackle:

Toub said Butker could be benched during the majority of the Chiefs’ kickoffs this season. Because of the NFL’s new kickoff rules, Toub wants to put another player on the field to make a tackle. He doesn’t want Butker making too many tackles during the season.

“If you watched the XFL, I watched every play,” Toub said. “I bet kickers were involved at least 25 percent to 40 percent of the tackles, either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle or missing the tackle. We don’t want

Butker making too many tackles during the season.

“If you watched the XFL, I watched every play,” Toub said. “I bet kickers were involved at least 25 percent to 40 percent of the tackles, either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle or missing the tackle. We don’t want Butker in that situation.”

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has taken a more masculine approach than Butker, choosing to lift more weights so he’s better prepared to participate in kickoffs this season.

A few days after Toubs’ suggestion on benching Butker on kickoffs, during a special team meeting on Thursday, defensive end BJ Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest. Butker rushed to get medical help from the training staff for Thompson. The Chiefs canceled the rest of their team activities on Thursday and postponed press conferences with players and head coach Andy Reid until Friday.

Justin Reid is working overtime for his new opportunity

Justin Reid was one of the players who talked to the media on Friday. Per Bobby Kownack with the NFL’s website, Justin said he’s working on his kicks outside of practice:

[Justin] told reporters he’s been working with footballs and a tee separate from organized team activities to stay sharp. The next step after an offseason of kicking practice will likely be giving Reid a shot to showcase his abilities in preseason, just as he’s wanted for the past couple years.