The Chiefs’ decision to add Justin Tucker to the practice squad was always going to follow them into the broadcast booth, and CBS didn’t dodge it Sunday.
Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt addressed the reaction to Tucker’s arrival during the Chiefs’ game, with Nantz laying out why the move had become such a major talking point around the league. Tucker’s signing came after Kansas City’s struggles at kicker, with Harrison Butker missing a 54-yard attempt Sunday in the fourth quarter of a 28-24 loss to the Broncos.
Butker has now missed six field-goal attempts this season, matching his career high for a single year, which he previously set in 2022. ESPN also noted that since the start of last season, he has missed 16 kicks, including field goals and extra points, the most by any player in that span.
That opening left the Chiefs with a possible alternative in Tucker, who joined the practice squad last week. The move set off a wave of criticism because of allegations of improper behavior by Tucker from 16 massage therapists in Baltimore-area spas. Tucker was suspended 10 games because of the allegations.
Nantz said the signing had become a major story because of both Tucker’s suspension and the accusations surrounding him.
“One of the big stories this past week is that the Chiefs, because of the way Butker has struggled, going all the way back to the start of last season, they signed kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad,” Nantz said. “Just last year, Tucker had to serve a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
“And given the multitude of allegations of nonconsensual behavior, Tucker’s signing this week just drew a sharp rebuke in Kansas City and really all over the NFL landscape.”
Watt added that Andy Reid and the Chiefs had already spent a long stretch dealing with questions about the move.
“And understandably, Andy Reid and the Chiefs organization, at his press conference this week, had to spend I would say almost half of it answering questions about it,” Watt said.
Nantz also said that, in his conversation with Reid, the Chiefs believed they needed to put Butker in a spot where he would feel pressure, which helped explain why Tucker was brought in.
Awful Announcing posted a clip of the exchange, and ESPN’s Mina Kimes praised CBS for addressing the issue directly on air.
“Appreciated Nantz and Watt explaining why the Tucker signing in KC was controversial,” she wrote on X. “Took about 30 seconds and then kept it moving - it’s not rocket science.”
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