Kansas City brings in ex-Ravens kicker Justin Tucker after Harrison Butker's shaky start, a move that comes with off-field baggage.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a surprise special teams move, signing former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. The addition comes after a rocky start to the season for Harrison Butker.
Butker has missed five of his 16 field goal attempts this season, a worrying return for a kicker the Chiefs have long counted on in big moments. Bringing in Tucker puts a proven name on standby and adds pressure to a position that is rarely so unsettled in Kansas City.
Tucker was widely regarded as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history before the Ravens let him go in May 2025. Baltimore described the decision as a "football decision" following a dip in his form. The release came months after massage therapists accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior.
Tucker has denied the allegations and never faced criminal charges. He did serve a 10-game suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy. That history will follow him to Kansas City, and the Chiefs' decision to sign him is likely to draw plenty of scrutiny alongside the questions about his kicking.
For now, Tucker is on the practice squad and Butker remains the man with the job. If the misses keep piling up, though, the Chiefs have a very big name waiting in the wings.
