Overview
- Wednesday reports from multiple outlets confirmed the Kansas City Chiefs signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad on Oct. 28, 2026, with Harrison Butker remaining the active starter.
- Harrison Butker has struggled with accuracy this season, converting 11 of 16 field-goal attempts and missing several high-profile kicks that have increased pressure on the team to find reliable kicking options.
- Tucker last played in 2024, did not appeal a 10-game NFL suspension announced in June 2025, and has faced public allegations from 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists that triggered the league investigation and his release by the Ravens.
- The practice-squad deal makes Tucker eligible to be elevated to the active roster on short notice if Kansas City needs him, and reports say he performed strongly in recent workouts, though contract terms were not disclosed.
- For the Chiefs the signing reduces immediate game-day risk because midseason kicker replacements are scarce, but it also forces the club to weigh on-field needs against the reputational fallout from Tucker’s prior suspension and allegations.