Key Highlights
- The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad to evaluate alternatives at the kicking position.
- Incumbent kicker Harrison Butker has struggled during the 2026 season, converting just 11 of 16 field-goal attempts (68.75%) after missing two kicks in a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
- Tucker, a five-time first-team All-Pro with the Baltimore Ravens, has not played in an NFL game since the 2024 season following a 10-game league suspension in 2025.
The Kansas City Chiefs are taking concrete steps to address an unexpected vulnerability on their roster. Following a tough performance from long-time specialist Harrison Butker, the Chiefs have reportedly signed veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, according to the Kansas City Star. The move arrives in the wake of Kansas City’s frustrating 20-3 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks on October 25, a matchup in which Butker failed to convert two of his three field-goal tries. While Tucker’s addition provides the franchise with high-profile insurance, the Chiefs have not publicly stated that Butker has lost his starting designation.
Harrison Butker Faces Scrutiny After Early-Season Slump
Harrison Butker, 31, has long stood as one of the NFL’s most dependable kickers, having registered a field-goal conversion rate of 84 percent or higher in every single campaign across a nine-year span. However, the early portion of the 2026 campaign has proven unusually difficult for the veteran. Against Seattle, Butker hit a 50-yarder but misfired on a 58-yard attempt prior to halftime and sent a 45-yard try wide in the fourth quarter, squandering an opportunity to make the contest competitive.
Following the defeat, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the specialist’s current state of play. He’s been one of the most consistent kickers in football. He’s off a bit, so got to fix it,
Reid remarked. Butker also reflected on his execution, admitting that pregame preparation had not gone smoothly: Warm-up wasn’t great. It’s just something that you have to roll with and try to fix it in the game and do the best that you can,
he explained. Through the aftermath of the Seattle matchup, Butker has converted 11 of 16 field goals on the year, representing a 68.75 percent success rate, while making only two of six kicks from 50 yards or beyond.
Justin Tucker’s Return to the NFL via Kansas City
The arrival of Justin Tucker introduces an accomplished specialist into the Chiefs’ environment. During his long tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, Tucker captured Super Bowl XLVII, earned seven Pro Bowl nods, and was selected as a first-team All-Pro five times. Widely recognized as one of the elite kickers of his generation, Tucker brings undeniable historical pedigree to a team that emphasizes special teams execution.
Despite his historical accolades, Tucker comes with performance questions and significant off-field baggage. His final year with Baltimore in 2024 was the least accurate season of his career, yielding a conversion rate of just 73.3 percent with notable misses from deep range. In May 2025, the Ravens released Tucker after 16 massage therapists from eight spas in the Baltimore area accused him of inappropriate conduct during therapy sessions. Tucker consistently denied the allegations, characterizing the claims as false. Nonetheless, the NFL issued a 10-game suspension under its personal conduct policy in June 2025. Tucker did not play in the NFL throughout 2025 and has not appeared in an active regular-season game since 2024.
Why This Matters
In high-stakes football, special teams precision often determines the outcome of tightly contested matchups, especially when offensive production stalls. The Chiefs generated only a single field goal against Seattle, amplifying the cost of Butker’s missed kicks. By utilizing a practice-squad position to evaluate Tucker, Kansas City creates competitive internal pressure and assesses a proven veteran without abruptly waiving Butker. Over the coming practices, the Chiefs’ coaching staff will weigh Butker’s potential to rebound against Tucker’s rust and past accuracy issues before deciding if an official change on the active game-day roster is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Harrison Butker lost his starting role with the Chiefs?
No. While Justin Tucker has reportedly been signed to the practice squad, Kansas City has not publicly established Tucker as the new first-choice kicker. Butker remains the incumbent as the team evaluates its options.
Why has Justin Tucker been away from the NFL?
Tucker did not play during the 2025 season after the Baltimore Ravens released him in May 2025 following misconduct allegations from massage therapists, which Tucker denied. The NFL subsequently handed him a 10-game suspension in June 2025 under its personal conduct policy.
What are Harrison Butker’s kicking stats in the 2026 season?
Following the October 25 loss to the Seahawks, Butker has converted 11 of 16 field-goal attempts, which equates to a 68.75 percent success rate, including a 2-for-6 mark on attempts from 50 yards or further.
