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Kicker Justin Tucker is back in the NFL after serving a 10-week suspension under the personal conduct policy and being out of the league all of last season.
Tucker, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection over 13 seasons with the Ravens, is being signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad, a source confirmed to Front Office Sports. He gives the team an in-house alternative to its struggling kicker, Harrison Butker, who remains on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, Tucker is eligible to sign a deal worth $18,350 to $22,850 per week while on the practice squad. The CBA limits practice squad players with less NFL experience to $13,750 per week while on a team’s practice squad this season.
If he’s elevated to the roster, Tucker would be paid at least a prorated portion of $1.3 million, the NFL’s minimum salary for a player of his experience level this season under the CBA.
The Ravens released Tucker in May 2025. The following month, the NFL suspended him for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season for violating the personal conduct policy. The suspension reportedly resulted from discussions between the league, the NFL Players Association, and Tucker’s representatives before the case would have gone before a disciplinary officer under the conduct policy.
The suspension came after the NFL investigated allegations of inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions made against Tucker. He denied the allegations and was not charged with a crime. He faced no known civil lawsuits.
Tucker, 36, had previous workouts with other NFL teams without being signed. He worked out this week for the Chiefs with a group that included former Rams kicker Harris Mevis.
Butker’s Struggles and Controversy
Butker missed two field goal attempts during the Chiefs’ first loss of the season Sunday night in Seattle. He has missed five of his 16 field goal tries this season.
He’s in the second season of a four-year, $25.6 million contract extension. Butker has won three Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs and made plenty of clutch kicks during their dynastic run.
He sparked controversy with a 2024 commencement address at Benedictine College in Kansas, in which he spoke about what he called “diabolical lies” told to women and “dangerous gender ideologies,” as well as gay pride and then-President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
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