Kansas City Chiefs sign kicker Justin Tucker to practice squad
By JoBeth Davis & Chloe Godding
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — The Kansas City Chiefs are working to shore up recent issues at kicker.
After working out several kickers on Tuesday, the Chiefs have signed All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to the practice squad following struggles from Harrison Butker.
Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Harrison Butker talks field goal misses Andy Reid says Harrison Butker is ‘off a bit’ after two missed field goals against Seahawks Head coach Andy Reid indicated that Butker will still be the Chiefs’ starter in Denver on Sunday.
Butker, who has been one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers for years, missed two field goals Sunday night as the Chiefs fell 20-3 to the Seattle Seahawks, suffering their first loss of the season.
One of those misses came from 58 yards just before halftime, a kick that fell short of the crossbar.
Butker has missed five of 16 field goal attempts this season.
Tucker, 36, former kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, hasn’t played in the NFL since 2024. He didn’t play last season while he served a 10-game suspension for violations of the NFL personal conduct policy. He was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said the Chiefs worked out three kickers on Tuesday, keeping Tucker and recently released Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis around all day. After workouts and resume reviews, Tucker was signed to the practice squad.
Along with Mevis, the Chiefs also worked out kicker Ben Sauls.
The addition of Tucker has already been met with criticism from fans due to past allegations against him.
When questioned about the signing and the Chiefs’ history of giving out second chances, Reid didn’t have much to say about Tucker’s past.
“I try to do homework on it, see exactly what’s taken place since and — but you know, I mean, the kid, he served a suspension. It’s been time. There’s been time involved with it,” Reid said.
What exactly that homework included?
“I’m not going to get into all that,” Reid said. “But to bring him in here, I did some homework, yeah. I’m not going to get into all that, but, I mean, he’s here and he’s on the practice squad, so. We’ll roll with it.”
One reporter asked Reid what kind of message signing Tucker sends to female fans.
“He’s done his suspension. Took care of that business there. I’ll leave it at that for you,” Reid said.
Despite all the Tucker talk, Reid said Butker will get most of the reps this week. Reid didn’t indicate any physical issue with Butker, but rather a technique that needs tweaking.
“Harrison, we love … I mean he’s one of my favorite guys. Sometimes things don’t go quite the way you want them, and you work on that. He understands the business and how it works,” Reid said. “We had a practice squad position open so for security we brought him (Tucker) in and put him in that spot … Butker gets it. He knows that’s part of this business. He’s struggled a little bit and he gets it. Needs to pick it up here a little bit.”
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