Chiefs Sign Veteran Kicker to Practice Squad

Justin Tucker has converted 89.1 percent of his career field goals, a statistic that stands out in a league where kicking consistency is rare. The Kansas City Chiefs signed the 36-year-old veteran to their practice squad on Tuesday, a move that signals concern about the performance of their current starter, Harrison Butker. The Kansas City Star was the first to report the agreement, which was confirmed by CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz.

Tucker spent most of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played until January 19, 2025. He is an eight-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler. He holds NFL records for the fastest time to reach 300 career field goals and 1,000 points. His 66-yard field goal remained the longest in league history until Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little kicked 67 and 68-yard field goals.

The signing follows a difficult stretch for Butker. The Chiefs kicker has missed six kicks this season, including one extra point. In a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, Butker missed a 58-yard attempt at the end of the first half and a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter. Most of his misses have come from long range. He is 9-for-10 from inside 50 yards this season.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after the Seattle game that Butker has been one of the most consistent kickers in football. Reid noted that Butker is off a bit and needs to fix it. The team held workouts for three kickers this week. NFL Media reported that the Chiefs chose Tucker over former Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis.

Tucker’s path to Kansas City involved a period away from the game. The Ravens released him in May 2025. In January of that year, The Baltimore Banner reported that six women had accused him of sexually inappropriate misconduct at multiple spas in the Baltimore area. That number later increased to 16 accusers across eight spas. The allegations included improper touching and exposing his erect genitals during sessions.

The NFL suspended Tucker for the first 10 games of the 2025 season for violating its personal conduct policy. He went unsigned after that suspension. He worked out for several teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets, but did not sign a contract. Tucker remains on the practice squad while Butker retains his starting role.