The Kansas City Chiefs signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad on Wednesday, a move that quickly sparked questions regarding the franchise’s decision to bring in a player who recently served a league suspension for personal conduct violations.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid faced repeated inquiries during his Wednesday press conference about adding Tucker, including what signal the transaction sends to the team’s female supporters. Tucker was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2025 NFL season after an investigation into accusations from 16 female massage therapists who alleged inappropriate sexual behavior between 2012 and 2016.
“He’s done his suspension. Took care of that business there. I’ll leave it at that,” Reid told reporters, as reported by USA TODAY Sports. When asked about evaluating players seeking a second opportunity, Reid explained that the team works to examine background details before making roster decisions. “Listen, we try to do our homework the best way we possibly can and talk to a lot of people to make sure things are OK,” Reid said.
Struggles Prompt Kicking Competition
Kansas City listed Tucker on its official transaction report Wednesday after conducting tryouts for three kickers, including former Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis. Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Tucker converted all 30 of his field-goal attempts during the team workout.
The move comes as incumbent kicker Harrison Butker navigates a difficult stretch. Through six games, Butker has converted 11 of 16 field-goal attempts, recording a 68.8 percent success rate, according to Wealth of Geeks. In Sunday’s 20-3 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks, Butker missed two kicks, failing on a 58-yard try before halftime and pushing a 45-yard attempt wide right in the fourth quarter.
Despite bringing in competition, Reid indicated that Butker will maintain his role on the active roster when Kansas City travels to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 1. “He understands the business and how it works,” Reid said of Butker, according to USA TODAY Sports. “A practice squad position opened, so for security we brought [Tucker] in that spot we had open.”
Misconduct Accusations and League Penalties
Tucker, 36, last appeared in an NFL game during the 2024 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore Banner first reported the allegations against him in January 2025, detailing accounts from massage therapists across eight Baltimore-area businesses. Tucker firmly rejected the claims, asserting that he never acted improperly and noting the strain the accusations caused for his family.
The Ravens released Tucker in May 2025, with General Manager Eric DeCosta describing the roster move as a football decision. The NFL subsequently handed down a 10-game suspension in June 2025 without pay under its personal conduct policy. Tucker opted not to file an appeal and spent the duration of the sanction as an unsigned free agent.
Across 13 seasons in Baltimore, Tucker earned seven Pro Bowl honors and converted 89.1 percent of his regular-season attempts. His final season in 2024 marked a career low, making 22 of 30 tries for a 73.3 percent conversion rate.
Backlash and What Lies Ahead
The signing generated immediate criticism across the football community. Former Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz voiced frustration on social media, questioning how league media framed the news and pointing directly to the misconduct allegations and Tucker’s suspension.
Kansas City enters its upcoming division game against Denver holding a 5-1 record. For now, Tucker remains on the practice squad while Butker prepares to handle kicking duties against the Broncos, leaving Tucker’s potential elevation to the active roster an unresolved question for the weeks ahead.
