37-year-old Justin Tucker joins Chiefs practice squad amid Butker struggles

The Kansas City Chiefs signed 37-year-old kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad on Wednesday. The move adds depth to a position where starting kicker Harrison Butker has missed five of his 16 field goal attempts this season.

Head coach Andy Reid addressed the decision on Wednesday when asked about the message sent to female fans regarding Tucker, who was suspended for sexual misconduct. Reid stated that Tucker has completed his suspension and handled his personal business. He added that he will leave the matter there.

Reid said the team conducted due diligence before signing Tucker. He noted that the staff speaks to many people to ensure everything is in order. When asked specifically what homework was done on Tucker, Reid said he is not going to get into all of that. He explained that his evaluation process focuses on what has happened since the incident and the time involved in the suspension.

Tucker was suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 NFL season following an investigation into accusations of nonconsensual sexual behavior. The suspension stemmed from a report by The Baltimore Banner in January 2025. The report detailed accounts from six women who said Tucker exposed his genitals during massage therapy sessions between 2012 and 2016. Despite the suspension, Tucker remained unsigned for the entire 2025 season.

Before signing with Kansas City, Tucker worked out with the Miami Dolphins earlier this year, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. His last regular season game was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024. During that final season with Baltimore, he converted 73.3 percent of his field goals, a career low.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday that the team trusts the front office to make good decisions. He said he tries not to get too high or too low on any individual signing. Mahomes credited general manager Brett Veach and the staff for bringing in great players. He added that his focus for the day was on the Denver Broncos and continuing to improve.

Tucker is second all-time in the NFL for field goal percentage. The Chiefs currently list him on the practice squad, where he will compete for a role with the team.