Good news for KC Chiefs: kicker Harrison Butker practiced Wednesday in limited capacity

The Chiefs are giving kicker Harrison Butker a shot to see if he can play in Week 4.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Butker would get in some work on the practice field ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“He’ll go ahead and do a little bit today,” Reid said. “We’ll play it by ear with that as we go.”

Butker, who hasn’t practiced since he suffered a left ankle sprain in Week 1, missed the past two games.

The Chiefs turned to Matt Ammendola to handle the kicking duties against the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. But on Monday the Chiefs terminated Ammendola’s practice squad contract after he missed an extra point in the Chiefs’ 20-17 loss to the Colts.

The Chiefs then signed kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad to replace Ammendola, and Wright, who previously kicked for the Jacksonville Jaguars, is on standby if Butker misses a third straight game.

“He had a good workout (Tuesday),” Reid said of Wright. “You hope that transfers in. He does have experience, so (special teams coordinator) Dave Toub will look at that, too.”

Butker’s return to practice in any capacity was good news, but the Chiefs are still dealing with injuries to other players. Reid said wide receiver Mecole Hardman (heel), defensive end Mike Danna (calf) and running back Ronald Jones (illness) would not practice.

Reid pointed out that Hardman has been dealing with the heel injury in recent weeks, so holding out the fourth-year wide receiver from practice was a precautionary decision. Hardman enters Week 4 with seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.

“We’re going to sit him down today,” Reid said. “I think he’s going to OK. We’re just going to rest it.”

In roster-related news, the Chiefs brought back linebacker Elijah Lee to the practice squad a day after releasing him as a vested veteran. To fill Lee’s spot on the active 53-player roster, the Chiefs elevated rookie safety Nazeeh Johnson from the practice squad.

Johnson was a seventh-round draft pick with the Chiefs this year but was waived as part of the team’s multiple personnel moves to establish their initial 53-player roster.

The Chiefs later in the afternoon listed Butker and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (abdomen) as limited participants on Wednesday’s injury report. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder) and right tackle Andrew Wylie (hip) practiced fully.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones did not practice, but the Chiefs listed him with a not-injury-related designation.