Tucker’s Return Amid Butker’s Slump
Justin Tucker signed with the Chiefs practice squad after Harrison Butker missed five field goals this season. Tucker, who has an 89.1% career field goal percentage, is eligible to play immediately following his suspension, providing depth for Kansas City's struggling kicking unit.
Justin Tucker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on Wednesday, three days after Harrison Butker missed field goals from 58 and 45 yards in a 20-3 loss to Seattle. This move directly addresses Butker’s uncharacteristic struggles, as he is currently tied for the NFL lead in missed field goals with five total misses this season. The 37-year-old kicker has not appeared in an NFL game since January 19, 2025, when he played for the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills. His absence followed a May 2025 release by the Ravens after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, leading to a 10-game suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy. Because the NFL counted the first ten weeks of the previous regular season as time served, Tucker is immediately eligible to play if promoted to the active roster.
Roster Mechanics and Injury Exemptions
The signing leverages specific roster rules that allow teams to add depth without immediate active roster commitment. Tucker joins the practice squad ahead of Week 8, where the Chiefs face the Denver Broncos. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Butker will still receive the majority of practice reps this week, indicating Tucker is not yet the primary option. However, the team can promote Tucker at any time if Butker continues to falter. Butker’s current statistics show he is 11-for-16 on field goal attempts, with most misses coming from distances of 50 yards or more. He has made just two of six attempts from that range this year. Additionally, Butker has missed an extra point or field goal in 15 of his last 26 regular season games, a stark contrast to his nine-year stretch where he made at least 84% of his field goals every season.
Reid cited Tucker’s completed suspension as the reason the team felt comfortable bringing him in. "We try to do our homework the best way we can," Reid stated during his press conference. The controversy surrounding the signing is significant, given that sixteen massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior between 2012 and 2016. Despite these serious allegations, the NFL did not ban him permanently, allowing him to return after serving his penalty. This parallels the situation with Deshaun Watson, who also returned to the Cleveland Browns after a similar suspension. Fans expressed backlash on local radio stations, questioning whether winning should outweigh moral standards. One caller asked, "When is winning not going to be the most important thing?" The league’s consistency in allowing players to return after suspensions suggests that second chances are standard practice, regardless of the nature of the violation.
Performance Metrics and Historical Context
Tucker remains the NFL’s second all-time leader in made field goal percentage, holding an 89.1% career mark. His final season with Baltimore was easily the worst of his career, where he made only 22 of 30 field goals for a 73.3% rate. Many of those misses came from long distance, a weakness that could resurface in Kansas City. In comparison, Butker had been a model of consistency prior to this season, but his recent slump has created an opening for Tucker to prove his leg is still intact. Tucker reportedly went 30-for-30 during his workout with the Chiefs before earning the deal. If he cannot kick at an NFL level, Kansas City will likely release him quickly. The dynamic is simple: reputations do not put footballs through uprights. Whether Tucker can translate his past accuracy into present performance remains the central question for the Chiefs’ special teams unit.
