Chiefs Kicking Depth: Justin Tucker joins practice squad

Justin Tucker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on Wednesday. The agreement marks the kicker's return to the NFL after a 10-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy last year. He will now compete for a roster spot with Harrison Butker, the team's current starter.

Tucker spent 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he established himself as a consistent field goal specialist. His time in Baltimore ended in 2025 after the Baltimore Banner reported that 16 massage therapists had accused him of sexual misconduct. Tucker described those accusations as unequivocally false and tabloid fodder. The Ravens released him in May of that year. Although he faced no criminal charges or civil suits, the NFL suspended him for the first 10 games of the 2025 season. He served that time as a free agent and regained eligibility in November.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reed addressed the move on Wednesday. He stated that Tucker had completed his suspension and handled the necessary business. Reed noted that the team evaluated the situation thoroughly before making the decision. The Chiefs also held workouts with Ben Sauls and Harrison Mevis before selecting Tucker for the open practice squad position.

The signing places immediate pressure on Butker, who has missed 10 field goal attempts and five extra points since the start of last season. Those statistics represent the highest totals in the league. Butker commands the third-highest kicker salary in the NFL and holds the sixth-highest base salary on the Chiefs roster. Despite the new competition, Reed confirmed that Butker will kick for the team in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

Reed expressed continued support for Butker while acknowledging his recent struggles. The coach said the team values Butker and understands that performance fluctuates. He emphasized that Butker accepts the competitive nature of the position. Tucker, who will turn 37 next month, also missed 10 kicks during the 2024 season. That number was the highest of his career, which includes seven Pro Bowl selections.

The Chiefs have a history of re-signing players with past controversies. Last year, the team brought back running back Kareem Hunt, whom they had previously released after security footage showed him kicking a woman in a hotel hallway. They also signed punter Matt Araiza, who faced allegations of rape at San Diego State. Araiza claimed the encounters were consensual. A district attorney declined to file criminal charges, and subsequent defamation suits were dropped with neither side admitting wrongdoing.

Reed explained that he reviews all available facts when making personnel decisions. He noted that Tucker served his suspension and spent time addressing the issues. The coach said that process informs his evaluation of players.

Tucker has a history of minor conflicts with current Chiefs teammates. Two years ago, before an AFC championship game in Baltimore, a dispute arose over warmup space. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes asked Tucker to move his gear. Tucker moved it slightly, and tight end Travis Kelce kicked Tucker's footballs and helmet away. The incident led to an exchange of words. The Chiefs won that game 17-10 and went on to beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl for a second consecutive title.

Mahomes addressed the past interaction on Wednesday. He said the team did not hold a longstanding grudge against Tucker. He characterized the moment as competitive intensity rather than a personal beef. The team's focus remained on winning the game, which they accomplished.

Butker has also faced public attention for political views. Several years ago, he delivered a commencement address at Benedictine College. He described the address as a very intentional foray into politics. In it, he suggested that many female graduates were more excited about marriage and children than professional careers. Butker later formed a political action committee for the 2024 election to encourage Christians to vote for traditional values.