Andy Reid defends Chiefs signing Justin Tucker to practice squad

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has defended the signing of Justin Tucker to the team’s practice squad, saying the kicker has completed his NFL suspension. According to BBC Sport, Reid addressed the decision at a news conference on Wednesday, after Kansas City moved to add another option amid Harrison Butker’s struggles.

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Tucker, 36, received a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following a league investigation. BBC Sport reported that 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area accused him of sexual misconduct during the 2010s. Tucker has consistently denied the allegations and has not faced criminal charges. He served the suspension last season and is eligible for selection immediately.

Reid said the Chiefs had spoken to people and carried out checks before bringing Tucker in. When asked to explain those checks, he declined to provide details. The coach’s public explanation focused on Tucker having served his punishment and on his current place on the practice squad; he did not elaborate on the enquiries behind the decision.

The signing follows a difficult run for Butker, who has been Kansas City’s kicker since 2017. He has missed five of his 16 field-goal attempts this season, according to the BBC report. Two of those misses came from three attempts in Saturday’s 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. His career field-goal accuracy stands at 87.3%, fifth in NFL history.

Tucker’s own recent playing record includes a significant downturn. Although his 89.1% career field-goal success rate over 13 seasons ranks second in NFL history, he converted 73.3% of his attempts in 2024, the worst season of his career. The five-time All-Pro previously won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent his NFL career before his release.

Baltimore released Tucker in May 2025, describing the move as a football decision after his declining form. His arrival in Kansas City is a practice-squad signing, rather than an announced replacement of Butker. Tucker is available because his ban has ended, while Reid has declined to offer further public detail about the club’s checks before the signing.