Justin Reid kickoff, explained: Here’s why Chiefs safety handles some kicking duties vs. Chargers

On By Littum

The Chiefs got the ball first Sunday night, drove down the field against the Chargers and kicked a field goal. The kicker was NFL journeyman Matthew Wright, filling in for Harrison Butker and Spencer Shrader, who were injured.

Wright hit a 47-yard field goal to get the scoring started, but after the commercial break, Kansas City was set to kickoff to Los Angeles and Wright wasn’t out. Instead, free safety Justin Reid was lined up behind the tee in the kicker position. The defender missed a kick that ended up in the end zone for a touchback.

Here’s why Reid is kicking the Chiefs.

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Why does Justin Reid kick?

Reid has handled kickoffs in the past. It started when he was called up as an emergency kicker last year, but he has a strong leg. Reid has taken over since Butker has been injured in the past, but Kansas City hasn’t gone with him since they had a fully healthy kicker.

Wright is the third kicker the Chiefs have used this season. Some teams have their kickers handle kickoffs, while others make it the player’s duty. For Wright, it may just be that he’s not good at kickoffs. More likely, Kansas City doesn’t want to expose him to more things that could get him hurt.

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Over the summer, the NFL announced its new dynamic kickoff rules. The new changes should encourage back more action, but in a way that also increased player safety. With Reid on the roster, head coach Andy Reid initially said the linebacker would become the new kickoff person because he would provide the added benefit of a more competent tackler. Butker could make a tackle, but that’s a risky shot for a kicker to take.

Reid would have a better chance to make the tackle and a lower risk of injury. The Chiefs ended up going with Butker anyway, but after 14 weeks the move to Reid finally happened.

Reid can handle the stationary kickoff, while Wright is saved for important field goals that require more precision. The safety has handled a pair of kickoffs but has yet to make an official field goal attempt in his career.