Chiefs Bolster Struggling Kicking Game By Signing Justin Tucker to Practice Squad

The Kansas City Chiefs added veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad on Wednesday, giving the 37-year-old a new spot in the league after a year without a team. The move addresses a specific weakness in the Chiefs' roster, as starting kicker Harrison Butker has missed five of his 16 field goal attempts this season. The signing provides immediate competition at a position that has struggled to convert kicks.

Head coach Andy Reid offered a concise explanation for the decision when questioned about the optics of signing a player with a recent history of misconduct allegations. "He’s done his suspension. Took care of his business there. I’ll leave it at that," Reid said. He added that the organization conducts thorough research before making such calls, stating, "We try to do our homework best way we possibly can, and talk to a lot of people, and make sure things are okay."

Tucker's last active season with the Baltimore Ravens was in 2024. The following January, The Baltimore Banner reported on accusations from six women regarding nonconsensual sexual behavior during massage therapy sessions between 2012 and 2016. The reports included claims that Tucker exposed his genitals and brushed women with his exposed penis. The NFL suspended Tucker for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season following an investigation, but he remained unsigned for the remainder of that year. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, Tucker worked out with the Miami Dolphins earlier this year.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also addressed the addition on Wednesday, expressing trust in the general management staff. "I try not to get too high or too low on anything. I know [general manager Brett] Veach [and the front office] do a great job of bringing great players in," Mahomes said. He noted that his focus remains on the upcoming schedule rather than individual roster moves, adding, "But for me, it was about the Denver Broncos and moving on and continuing to get better."

Reid declined to detail the specific checks performed on Tucker, saying, "I’m not going to get into all of that." He emphasized that time has passed since the suspension and that his evaluation process focuses on what has occurred since the player served his time. "I try to do homework on it, see exactly what’s taken place since. He served a suspension, there’s been time involved with it. That’s how I evaluate it," he stated.

Tucker ranks second all-time in the NFL for field goal percentage. However, his performance declined during his final year with Baltimore, where he converted a career-low 73.3 percent of his attempts. The Chiefs will now use Tucker to challenge Butker for the starting role as the season progresses.