Kansas City Chiefs Sign Kicker Justin Tucker to Practice Squad

Justin Tucker is back in the NFL.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed the eight-time All-Pro kicker to their practice squad on Wednesday. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed the move during a press conference. The signing follows reports from The Kansas City Star. It comes as the team looks for stability at the kicking position.

Tucker has not played for a team since the Baltimore Ravens released him in May 2025. He was suspended for 10 games by the NFL. The suspension followed an investigation into allegations of improper conduct. The team noted that he served his suspension before joining Kansas City.

The move highlights struggles with current kicker Harrison Butker. Butker is tied for the most missed field goals in the league this season. He has missed five attempts so far in 2026. He stands at 11-for-16 on field goal attempts. He missed two kicks in a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Those misses came from 58 and 45 yards out.

Reid said Butker will likely kick in the upcoming game. He stated that Butker will take the majority of practice repetitions. The Chiefs play the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Tucker, who is 36, joins the squad ahead of that matchup. He ranks second all-time in NFL field goal percentage.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed a pregame dispute with Tucker from the 2023 AFC Championship Game. Mahomes said there was no long-standing feud between them. He described the incident as competitors being competitors. Mahomes expressed confidence in general manager Brett Veach. He said the focus is on improving the team's performance against Denver.

Tucker turns 37 in late November. He joins a practice squad that currently has Butker on the active roster. Butker remains the primary kicker for the time being. The team will evaluate Tucker's performance in practice before any further roster moves are made.