By Sohaib Shams
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid offered a brief defense Wednesday of the team's decision to sign kicker Justin Tucker to the practice squad, after Tucker served a 10-game NFL suspension stemming from sexual misconduct allegations.
Tucker's suspension and allegations
Tucker, 37, has not played in the NFL since the 2024 season. In January 2025, The Baltimore Banner reported accusations from six women who said Tucker engaged in nonconsensual sexual behavior during massage therapy sessions between 2012 and 2016. Ten more massage therapists came forward with similar allegations the following month. Tucker denied all claims, calling them "unequivocally false." The NFL suspended him for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season, but he remained unsigned for the entire year.
Chiefs seek kicking competition
Kansas City signed Tucker to provide competition for starting kicker Harrison Butker, who has missed five of 16 field-goal attempts this season. Tucker, a four-time All-Pro, is second all-time in NFL field-goal percentage, though he converted a career-worst 73.3% of his attempts in his final season with the Baltimore Ravens.
Reid says team did 'homework'
When asked about the message the signing sends to female fans, Reid said, "He's done his suspension. Took care of his business there. I'll leave it at that." He added that the organization tries to "do our homework best way we possibly can, and talk to a lot of people, and make sure things are okay." Reid declined to detail the specific vetting process.
Mahomes expresses confidence in front office
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he trusts general manager Brett Veach and the front office. "I know they do a great job of bringing great players in," Mahomes said, according to ESPN. "For me, it was about the Denver Broncos and moving on and continuing to get better."
