The Chiefs have reached the point where Harrison Butker’s leash is no longer unlimited.
Kansas City is expected to sign veteran kicker Justin Tucker to the practice squad, according to Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, a clear signal that the team is taking a hard look at its kicking situation after weeks of concern over Butker’s accuracy. For a player who built his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable postseason weapons, that’s a sharp turn.
Tucker is no ordinary camp arm, either. The former Ravens kicker arrived in Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and spent 13 seasons there, spending much of that time as a familiar obstacle in the AFC’s biggest battles with Kansas City.
His résumé is loaded: five first-team All-Pro selections, seven Pro Bowl nods, an 89.1 percent field goal rate that ranks third all-time, and the NFL record for longest field goal before it was broken, thanks to a 66-yarder against Detroit as time expired in 2021. He also sits No. 17 on the league’s all-time points list with 1,775.
But Tucker’s name also comes with baggage. He was released by the Ravens in ’25 after an NFL investigation tied to accusations from 18 massage therapists that dated back to early in his career.
After serving a 10-game suspension, he became available to sign with any team. He had tryouts with the Saints, Colts and Jets this year before landing with Kansas City.
That move puts fresh pressure on Butker, whose start to the season has been rocky enough to push the Chiefs into action. He has hit just 11 of 16 field goals this year, and the problems haven’t been limited to one phase.
He had already missed extra points in previous seasons, and his overall accuracy has trended down from his peak. Against the Seahawks on Sunday night, he missed a 58-yard try that fell short and later pushed a 45-yard attempt wide right.
Harrison Butker's 15 missed kicks (10 FGs, 5 PATs) since start of last season are the most in NFL.
- Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 26, 2026
Kansas City’s decision says plenty about how it wants to handle the situation. Rather than gamble on an inexperienced option, the Chiefs brought in the most accomplished kicker available - someone whose resume can match Butker’s and whose reputation for handling pressure doesn’t need explaining. Brett Veach and the Chiefs clearly see this as an immediate problem, not a long-term experiment.
With Tucker on the practice squad, Butker is now operating with real competition breathing down his neck. And if Kansas City ends up promoting Tucker to the active roster, nobody will question whether he can handle the moment. The Chiefs now have two decorated kickers in the building, and they’re hoping one of them can finally steady a position that has become too shaky to ignore.
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