Justin Tucker Chiefs Practice Squad Move Adds Pressure on Harrison Butker

The Justin Tucker Chiefs practice squad move gives Kansas City a notable new option at kicker as Harrison Butker’s struggles continue. The Chiefs have reportedly signed the former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro on Wednesday, bringing Tucker back to an NFL team for the first time since 2024.

Tucker’s arrival comes after Butker missed a pair of kicks in Sunday’s 20-3 loss in Seattle to the Seahawks. Butker remained on the active roster Wednesday, so the move could be aimed at creating competition rather than making an immediate change.

Chiefs add Tucker amid Butker’s recent misses

Butker has missed 10 field-goal attempts and five extra points since the start of last season, the most in the league. His recent run includes multiple missed kicks in back-to-back games and four misses in his last six attempts, including two costly kicks against Seattle.

Kansas City has reportedly placed Tucker on the practice squad, giving the team a veteran option without removing Butker from the active roster. Coach Andy Reid was expected to address the move at his weekly news conference later Wednesday.

The timing is significant for a Chiefs team evaluating its kicking operation after another difficult outing. Butker’s status on the active roster suggests Kansas City has not publicly committed to a full switch, but Tucker’s signing places added scrutiny on the position.

Tucker returns after Ravens exit and suspension

Tucker, who turns 37 next month, spent 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and built a reputation as one of the NFL’s best kickers. He is a five-time All-Pro, but his time in Baltimore ended in controversy before the Ravens released him in May.

The Baltimore Banner reported in 2025 that Tucker had been accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists at a series of high-end spas. Tucker denied the accusations, calling them "unequivocally false" and "tabloid fodder."

Tucker was never criminally charged or sued in civil court. The NFL suspended him for the first 10 games of the 2025 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, and he served that suspension while he was a free agent. He became eligible for reinstatement last November.

Performance questions remain on both sides

While Tucker gives Kansas City a decorated alternative, his own recent kicking form had also dipped before his Ravens exit. He missed 10 kicks during the 2024 season, his final season with Baltimore.

Tucker worked out for the New York Jets before this season but did not sign with them. The Chiefs’ reported move now puts him back in an NFL building for the first time since 2024, though on the practice squad rather than the active roster.

For Kansas City, the immediate question is how Reid and the coaching staff handle the position after Butker’s recent misses. With Butker still on the roster and Tucker reportedly joining the practice squad, the Chiefs have created a direct competition at kicker without yet announcing a permanent change.

What happens next

Reid was expected to address Tucker’s addition later Wednesday. Until the Chiefs make a game-day roster decision, Butker remains the active-roster kicker and Tucker’s role is best viewed as practice-squad competition.