Chiefs reportedly set to sign Justin Tucker to practice squad as Harrison Butker falters
The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly signing former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, the move reported on 28 October 2026 amid a difficult start from incumbent Harrison Butker. Butker has missed five of his 16 field-goal attempts this season.
Tucker, 37, was released by the Ravens in May 2025 after a decline in form and the team described his departure as a "football decision". The kicker denied allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour made against him and never faced criminal charges, but the NFL handed him a 10-game suspension under its personal conduct policy.
More than a dozen massage therapists from spas and wellness centres in the Baltimore area accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behaviour, a series of allegations reported by the Baltimore Banner. One therapist quoted by the Banner described Tucker's alleged behaviour as "really degrading" while another said: "I can't watch sports anymore. I see his face everywhere."
During his time with Baltimore Tucker was widely regarded as one of the NFL's top kickers, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and winning a Super Bowl in his rookie season. His final campaign with the Ravens produced a 73.3% field-goal conversion rate, the worst statistical season of his career against a career average of 89.1%, and he has not played in the NFL since his May 2025 release.
Butker, 31, is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs but has produced an uneven start to this season on the field. Off the field he drew controversy for a commencement address at Benedictine College in 2024 in which he criticised Pride month, working women, Joe Biden's leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and abortion; in that speech he said: "I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you," followed by: "Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world." He also said: "I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother."
The report identifies Tucker as the player the Chiefs are targeting to join their practice squad after Butker's struggles this season. Tucker has not appeared in an NFL game since his release by Baltimore in May 2025.