Tucker joins Chiefs practice squad

Kansas City has signed former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to its practice squad. The move adds depth to a roster where the starter, Harrison Butker, has struggled with consistency this season. The Kansas City Star was the first to report the signing, which was confirmed by CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz.

Tucker is a seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLVII champion. He holds league records for the fastest path to 300 career field goals and 1,000 points. His career field goal percentage stands at 89.1%, with 417 made attempts ranking 14th in NFL history. His 66-yard field goal previously stood as the longest in league history before Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little surpassed it with a 67-yard and then a 68-yard kick.

The Chiefs evaluated three kickers during workouts this week. They selected Tucker over former Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis. Tucker last played in a game on Jan. 19, 2025. He was released by Baltimore in May 2025 after the NFL suspended him for the first 10 games of that season for violating its personal conduct policy.

The suspension stemmed from reports by The Baltimore Banner in January 2025. Six women initially accused Tucker of sexually inappropriate misconduct at Baltimore-area spas. The number of accusers later rose to 16 across eight facilities. The allegations included exposing his erect genitals and touching therapists inappropriately. Tucker worked out for the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets but remained unsigned until now.

Butker has missed six kicks in total this season, including one extra point. In the Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, he failed to convert a 58-yard field goal at the half and a 45-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. He is 9-of-10 from inside 50 yards, but the team has still left points on the field.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the issues after that game. He said, "He's been one of the most consistent kickers in football. He's off a bit, so gotta fix it." Butker remains the primary kicker, but the presence of Tucker on the practice squad indicates the team is monitoring the situation closely.

The signing creates immediate internal competition for the kicking role. The practice squad designation allows the team to evaluate Tucker's readiness without committing to a full roster spot immediately. Both kickers will now share practice facilities in Kansas City.