The Kansas City Chiefs have signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, sources confirmed Wednesday, adding a proven option as Harrison Butker continues to struggle with consistency in 2026.
Butker, a key contributor on the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl championship teams, has converted just 11 of 16 field-goal attempts this season. He went 1-for-3 in Sunday night’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, missing from 58 yards at the end of the first half and from 45 yards in the fourth quarter. He has also missed an extra point. The struggles mark a sharp drop from his career norms and have prompted the team to bring in competition.
Tucker, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, has not appeared in an NFL game since the 2024 season. He spent 13 years with the Baltimore Ravens, where he became one of the most accurate kickers in league history (career 89.1% on field goals) and won Super Bowl XLVII as a rookie. He previously held the NFL record for the longest field goal at 66 yards. The Ravens released him in May 2025 following a difficult 2024 campaign in which he missed eight of 30 field-goal attempts. He subsequently served a 10-game suspension in 2025 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after allegations of sexual misconduct involving multiple massage therapists in the Baltimore area; Tucker has denied the allegations.
The Chiefs worked out three kickers on Tuesday, including Tucker, former Rams kicker Harrison Mevis, and Ben Sauls. According to reports, Tucker was perfect in the session, going 30-for-30. Butker remains on the 53-man roster for now, with Tucker serving as insurance and a potential spark for the special-teams unit. Tucker turns 37 next month.
The move gives Kansas City a high-upside veteran in the building as the season progresses, while leaving open the possibility that Butker retains the job if he regains his form. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, reliable kicking remains a non-negotiable, and the Chiefs have moved quickly to address the current inconsistency.
