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Chiefs Sign Justin Tucker to Practice Squad Amid Kicking Struggles
· Confirmed
In Short: The Kansas City Chiefs have signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad to address recent struggles with their current kicker, Harrison Butker.
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, according to multiple reports. Tucker, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens in May 2025 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, has not played in the NFL since 2024.
Tucker, 36, was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2012 and spent 13 seasons with the franchise, earning five first-team All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowl nods. He holds a field goal percentage of 89.1 percent, ranking third all-time in the NFL.
The Chiefs are bringing Tucker in to address the struggles of their current kicker, Harrison Butker, who has missed 16 kicks since the start of the 2025 season, the most in the NFL. Butker is currently tied for the NFL lead in missed field goals in 2026.
Tucker was one of three kickers working out for the Chiefs, alongside Harrison Mevis. The team has backed Butker through his early-season struggles, but as it turns out, there's only so much job security a player can enjoy before even Super Bowl heroes have to compete for their jobs.
Tucker's signing is particularly notable given his reputation as one of the best kickers in NFL history. He has a strong track record, having converted 89.1 percent of his field goals and holding the NFL record for the longest field goal with a 66-yarder against Detroit in 2021.
However, Tucker's recent release from the Ravens came after disturbing allegations of sexual misconduct. In January 2025, The Baltimore Banner reported that Tucker had been accused by six different women of engaging in sexually inappropriate misconduct at multiple Baltimore-area spas between 2012 and 2016. The number of accusers eventually grew to 16 across eight spas.
The NFL suspended Tucker for the first 10 games of the 2025 season for violating its personal conduct policy, but he did not sign with a team that year. Tucker denied the allegations, calling them 'unequivocally false.'
Despite the controversy, Tucker's signing to the Chiefs' practice squad highlights the team's need for a reliable kicker. The Chiefs are 5-1 to start the 2026-27 NFL season, but their kicking issues have been a concern.
What this adds
The sources of the allegations against Tucker have not been fully substantiated, and the NFL's investigation into the claims remains ongoing.
What's confirmed
- On Wednesday, Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reported that the Chiefs were expected to sign veteran kicker Justin Tucker to the team's practice squad.
- The Kansas City Chiefs have signed five-time All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2024, to their practice squad, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter.
- The Kansas City Chiefs signed Justin Tucker, one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, to the practice squad.
- Mo. (KCTV) - As Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stands tied for the NFL lead in missed field goals in 2026, the organization is bringing in some backup.
What's still developing
- He converted only 73.3 percent of attempts, which included going 6 from 11 from 50 yards or more, which sounds similar to what the Chiefs have witnessed in 2026.
- While kickers aren't exactly household names, Tucker might be the exception, which makes the signing even more interesting for fans.
- Tucker was the Baltimore Ravens' longtime kicker who has an on-field case for eventual Hall of Fame induction given his body of work.
- Tucker previously worked out for multiple teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, but never signed a deal.
- Tucker was accused of exposing his erect genitals during sessions and touching the therapists inappropriately.
- The Chiefs are taking a chance where no one else would.
- “Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said at the time of Tucker’s release.
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