Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is set to return to the NFL after the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to bring him onto their practice squad, according to reports published on October 28, 2026. The move gives Kansas City another option at kicker as Harrison Butker continues to struggle this season.
Tucker, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro, has not played in an NFL game since the 2024 season. His return comes after a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
The reported signing also marks a new chapter in Tucker’s career following his departure from Baltimore in 2025. However, his football achievements and the allegations that preceded his release remain important parts of the story.
Why Are the Kansas City Chiefs Signing Justin Tucker?
The Chiefs are reportedly adding Tucker to their practice squad to strengthen competition at kicker. The decision follows a difficult stretch for Harrison Butker, who has missed several field-goal attempts during the 2026 season.
According to NFL.com, Kansas City evaluated multiple kickers before deciding to bring Tucker into the organisation. The move gives the coaching staff another experienced player to assess.
Butker remains on the active roster, meaning Tucker’s reported arrival does not automatically make him the team’s starting kicker.
Instead, his practice squad position gives Kansas City an opportunity to evaluate his form and determine whether he can contribute at the NFL level again.
Harrison Butker’s Struggles Create an Opportunity
Butker has established himself as one of the league’s accomplished kickers during his career with Kansas City. However, his recent performances have raised questions about the team’s kicking reliability.
He has converted 11 of 16 field-goal attempts during the 2026 season, according to NFL.com reporting published October 28.
His struggles became particularly noticeable during Kansas City’s 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when he missed two field goals.
For a team competing in the AFC, dependable kicking can make a significant difference in close games. Missed opportunities can affect scoring, field position and game strategy.
Consequently, bringing in Tucker gives the Chiefs another potential solution while putting additional pressure on Butker to improve.
Whether Tucker can turn that opportunity into a starting role will depend on his performance, physical readiness and the coaching staff’s evaluation.
Justin Tucker’s NFL Career and Achievements
Tucker built his reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in professional football during 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from the University of Texas and became a key part of Baltimore’s special teams.
His career highlights include:
- Seven Pro Bowl selections.
- Five first-team All-Pro selections.
- A Super Bowl XLVII championship with the Baltimore Ravens.
- A career field-goal conversion rate of 89.1% through the 2024 season.
- The NFL record for the longest successful field goal at 66 yards at the time of his previous career peak.
His consistency made him one of the league’s most dependable scoring options for much of his career.
However, his final season in Baltimore was difficult. Tucker converted just 73.3% of his field-goal attempts in 2024, the lowest rate of his career at that point.
That decline raises an important question for Kansas City: can he regain the accuracy that once made him an elite kicker?
The Chiefs will need to assess his current form rather than rely solely on his historical achievements.
Why Did the Baltimore Ravens Release Justin Tucker?
The Ravens released Tucker on May 5, 2025, ending his 13-season run with the franchise.
The decision followed reports of alleged sexual misconduct involving massage therapists in the Baltimore area. The Baltimore Banner first reported the allegations in January 2025.
According to reporting cited by the NFL, 16 massage therapists from eight Baltimore-area spas accused Tucker of inappropriate behaviour during sessions between 2012 and 2016.
Tucker denied the allegations. His representatives also rejected claims of misconduct.
The Ravens described his release as a football decision. However, the allegations and the subsequent NFL investigation formed an important part of the circumstances surrounding his departure.
It is important to distinguish between allegations and established legal findings. Tucker was not criminally charged in connection with these allegations, according to reports published at the time.
Why Was Justin Tucker Suspended by the NFL?
On June 26, 2025, the NFL announced that Tucker would receive a 10-game suspension without pay for violating its personal conduct policy.
The league’s disciplinary decision followed its investigation into the allegations against him.
Tucker served the suspension while he was a free agent and subsequently became eligible for reinstatement. However, he did not secure a place on an NFL roster during the remainder of the 2025 season.
His reported move to Kansas City therefore represents his first return to an NFL team since the Ravens released him.
The suspension was a league disciplinary action, not a criminal conviction. Tucker has denied wrongdoing throughout the controversy.
For the Chiefs, the decision to consider him involves both football performance and the wider circumstances surrounding his previous departure from Baltimore.
What Justin Tucker’s Return Means for the Chiefs
Tucker’s arrival could give Kansas City more flexibility at a position that has become a concern.
His career record suggests that he has the experience to compete for the job. Nevertheless, his last NFL season showed a decline in accuracy, and he has not played in a regular-season game since January 2025.
Several factors will determine whether the move proves successful:
1. Current kicking accuracy
Tucker will need to demonstrate that he can consistently convert field goals and extra points under NFL conditions.
2. Competition with Harrison Butker
Butker remains on the active roster. Tucker’s presence creates another option, but it does not establish that Kansas City intends to replace its current starter.
3. Physical readiness
After an extended absence from regular-season football, Tucker must show that he can handle the demands of the position.
4. Team performance
Reliable kicking can help a team convert scoring opportunities, particularly in tightly contested games. Kansas City will want to see whether Tucker can provide that reliability.
Ultimately, the signing is an opportunity for both sides. The Chiefs gain an experienced candidate, while Tucker gets another chance to demonstrate that he can still compete at the highest level.
Conclusion
Justin Tucker’s reported move to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad puts one of the NFL’s most accomplished kickers back in the spotlight.
His experience and career accuracy make him an intriguing option as Kansas City addresses its recent kicking problems. At the same time, his disappointing 2024 season means his past achievements alone cannot guarantee success.
The next step will be determining whether Tucker can regain his form and earn a larger role. For now, his reported arrival creates competition at kicker, while Harrison Butker remains on the active roster.
