K.C. switches kickers

Kansas City kicker Justin Medlock, right, reacts after missing a 30-yard field goal Sunday in Houston. Chiefs coach Herm Edwards announced Tuesday that Medlock, a rookie, would be added to the practice squad and new addition Dave Rayner would handle kicking duties.

Kansas City coach Herm Edwards yells to his players during the fourth quarter. The Texans slammed the Chiefs, 20-3, Sunday in Houston.

? The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Green Bay kicker Dave Rayner on Tuesday, sending struggling rookie Justin Medlock to the practice squad.

Medlock, who the Chiefs selected in the fifth round out of UCLA, missed a 30-yard field goal Sunday to spoil a 15-play, 76-yard opening drive in the 20-3 loss at Houston. Medlock also had a shaky preseason.

Rayner made 26 of 35 field goals in 2006 for Green Bay, hitting eight of 11 from between 40 and 49 yards. He’ll handle kicking duties Sunday at Chicago.

“We just felt at this time, due to the fact that we are very marginal and don’t have a lot of room for errors for not getting points, we wanted to go in this direction,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday. “We still have high regards for Medlock. He’s been good in practice, been good in pre-game, but he’s been a 50-50 kicker during the game. So we decided to go with a change this week.”

The Chiefs did not bring back veteran Lawrence Tynes, their kicker the past three seasons. Nor did they bring in any other kicker to give Medlock competition, virtually handing him the job.

“We wanted this kid to be our kicker,” Edwards said. “We gave him every opportunity to be our kicker. We did everything we could to allow this kid to be successful. It just didn’t work out so far. I think this kid will kick in the league.

“A lot of great kickers have gone through this their rookie year and find their way out of it and end up being kickers for a long time.”

Rayner lost his job in Green Bay to rookie Mason Crosby, who kicked a game-winning, 42-yard field goal with two seconds left in the Packers’ 16-13 victory over Philadelphia Sunday.

Also Tuesday, the Chiefs moved wide receiver Bobby Sippio from the practice squad to the active roster with veteran Eddie Kennison after pulling his hamstring on the first offensive play against Houston.

Sippio spent the past four seasons in the Arena Football League.

“The No. 1 thing as a wide receiver is you’ve got to catch the ball,” Edwards said. “He can catch the ball. He’s got very strong hands. He’s a physical guy. He can go inside. He’s fearless, has no fear for the linebackers. He’ll go in there and get hit and hold onto the football. That is what you like. He did well in the preseason. He’s excited about the opportunity.”

Edwards also said Larry Johnson, who set an NFL record with 416 rushing attempts last season, will get the ball more against the Bears. Johnson, who held out most of training camp in a contract dispute, had 10 carries against Houston but only two in the second half.

Edwards said cornerback Patrick Surtain, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opener, is questionable for Sunday.

Chiefs Schedule

Sept. 9 – at Houston, L 3-20 (0-1)Key play: Houston’s Mario Williams scooped up a Kris Wilson fumble and raced to the end zone, crushing the Chiefs’ hopes of responding to the Texans’ early field goal.

Sunday – at Chicago, 3:15 p.m. (CBS)Of note: The Chiefs and Bears, along with the Atlanta Falcons, are the lowest-scoring teams in the NFL after Week One. Each team managed only a field goal in its opener.

Sept. 23 – Minnesota, noon (FOX)Of note: Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson, a first-rounder from Oklahoma, ran for more than 100 yards and caught a TD pass in their opener.

Sept. 30 – at San Diego, 3:15 p.m. (CBS)Of note: Another tough road test for the Chiefs, who may be looking to avoid a winless September.

Oct. 7 – Jacksonville, noon (CBS)Of note: The Chiefs’ last meeting with Jacksonville, a 35-30 victory last New Year’s Eve, catapulted the Chiefs into the playoffs.

Oct. 14 – Cincinnati, noon (CBS)Of note: One thing’s for sure at the Chiefs-Bengals game: This year, no one’s going to knock Trent Green unconscious.

Oct. 21 – at Oakland, 3:05 p.m. (CBS)Of note: Trips to the black hole this close to halloween always are interesting.

Nov. 4 – Green Bay, noon (FOX)Of note: Likely the last time the Chiefs will face Brett Favre.

Nov. 11 – Denver, noon (CBS)Of note: The first of two games against rival Denver in less than a month.

Nov. 18 – at Indianapolis, noon (CBS)Of note: The defending champions shut down Larry Johnson in the playoffs last year. Can they do it again?

Nov. 25 – Oakland, noon (CBS)Of note: Damon Huard vs. Josh McCown, or Brodie Croyle vs. JaMarcus Russell?

Dec. 2 – San Diego, noon (CBS)Of note: Arrowhead might be a bit cold for the boys from the sunshine state, who likely will be looking to solidify their playoff position.

Dec. 9 – at Denver, 3:15 p.m. (CBS)Of note: Kansas City hasn’t won at Denver since 2000.

Dec. 16 – Tennessee, noon (CBS)Of note: Vince Young’s first visit to Arrowhead.

Dec. 23 – at Detroit, noon (CBS)Of note: Receiver Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, had 70 yards and a touchdown Sunday. Can he keep it up all year?

Dec. 30 – at New York Jets, 7:15 p.m. (NBC)Of note: Herm Edwards returns to his old stomping grounds, the Meadowlands, in the season finale.