Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Defends Signing Kicker Justin Tucker to Practice Squad

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has defended the franchise's decision to add veteran kicker Justin Tucker to the team's practice squad, noting that the player has completed his league-mandated suspension.

Tucker, a five-time All-Pro who won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens, was signed by Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He ranks second in NFL history in field-goal percentage, converting 89.1% of his attempts across 13 seasons. However, he endured the least accurate season of his career in 2024, making just 73.3% of his field-goal tries. The Ravens subsequently released him in May 2025, describing the move as a football decision.

Background and NFL Suspension

Last year, Tucker faced accusations of sexual misconduct from 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area regarding incidents during the 2010s. The 36-year-old kicker has consistently denied the allegations and did not face criminal charges. Following an investigation, the NFL suspended Tucker for 10 games for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Having served that suspension during the previous season, Tucker is now eligible to play.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Reid addressed the signing: "He's done his suspension, taking care of that business there. I'll leave it at that. We try to do our homework the best way we possibly can and talk to a lot of people, make sure things are OK."

When pressed on the extent of the team's background checks, Reid declined to elaborate further, stating: "I'm not going to get into all that. To bring him here, I did some homework. He's here and he's on the practice squad, so we roll with it."

Roster Context and Team Impact

Kansasa City's move for Tucker comes amid ongoing struggles by current kicker Harrison Butker. Butker, who has served as the Chiefs' kicker since 2017 and holds the fifth-best career field-goal accuracy in NFL history at 87.3%, has encountered a difficult stretch. The 31-year-old has missed five of his 16 field-goal attempts this season, including two out of three misses during a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Practical Implications and Verification

Readers seeking to verify the original reporting and official statements can consult the BBC Sport coverage at [BBC Sport American Football](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/articles/c9e8l47grpz4o).

Confirmed Facts:

• Justin Tucker has been signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.
• Andy Reid confirmed in a press conference that Tucker completed his 10-game NFL personal conduct suspension.
• Tucker previously faced allegations from massage therapists, which he denied, and never faced criminal charges.
• Harrison Butker has struggled with form this season, missing five of 16 field-goal attempts.

What Remains Unknown:

• Specific details regarding the internal "homework" and consultations conducted by the Chiefs organization prior to signing Tucker were not publicly disclosed by Reid.
• Whether or when Tucker will be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for an upcoming game has not been announced.