Chiefs 2023 special teams preview: Field goals and extra points

The Kansas City Chiefs’ field goal kicking squad got off to a rough start in 2022, but things got back on track by the time the postseason came around.

The team hopes to carry that positive momentum into 2023 as it retains a healthy Harrison Butker, who has been a reliable kicker for the Chiefs since 2017.

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Butker will have a handful of new guys blocking for him in 2023, but fans should expect that blocking squad to remain a brick wall like last year. Let’s take a look at who will be blocking for Butker this season, and who has been replaced.

Top 2022 Chiefs field goal/extra point contributors

These 12 players earned the most snaps on the Chiefs’ field goal/extra point kicking subunit in 2022:

OG Nick Allegretti
OT Orlando Brown Jr.
K Harrison Butker
OT Geron Christian
TE Noah Gray
C Creed Humphrey
OT Lucas Niang
OG Trey Smith
P/H Tommy Townsend
OT Prince Tega Wanogho
LS James Winchester
OT Andrew Wylie

Only three of the above players are no longer with the Chiefs: Brown, who joined the Cincinnati Bengals; Christian, who’s currently a free agent; and Wylie, who joined the Washington Commanders.

The Chiefs’ 2022 field goal/extra point kicking lineup and snaps. Find more here.

The rest of this squad should remain intact, though Niang and/or Wanogho could either switch roles or be replaced depending on who is active on gamedays. If Butker ever deals with an injury, expect safety Justin Reid to come in and try for extra points like last year.

Projected 2023 Chiefs field goal/extra point contributors

A few newbies could join this squad in 2023:

OT Wanya Morris
OT Donovan Smith
OT Jawaan Taylor

My projected Chiefs 2023 field goal/extra point lineup. Usage of tackles is still up in the air.

These players could/should also contribute:

OG Nick Allegretti
TE Blake Bell
K Harrison Butker
TE Noah Gray
C Creed Humphrey
OT Lucas Niang
S/K Justin Reid
OG Trey Smith
OG Joe Thuney
P/H Tommy Townsend
OT Prince Tega Wanogho
LS James Winchester

Veteran guard Thuney got out of doing special teams work for most of last season, so that makes me wonder if Smith will do the same. The Chiefs kept 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, so they could easily allow Smith and Thuney to take ST plays off while the younger guys earn reps with this squad. It all depends on whether all 10 linemen are active on gameday.

Of course, Bell could slide into one of the wing spots on the outside, but the Chiefs used tackles in those spots last season as well.

Outside of the 53-man roster, there are some guys on the Chiefs’ practice squad who could receive a callup and earn time here. That includes tight end Matt Bushman, offensive tackle Jason Godrick, offensive lineman Darian Kinnard or center Austin Reiter.