Chiefs send clear message to Harrison Butker with bold Justin Tucker move

Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Harrison Butker has become the subject of criticism due to the fact that he has missed five field-goals in 16 attempts this season.

The 5-1 Chiefs have not yet shown Butker the door, but they've sent him a clear warning ahead of their Week 8 game at the rival Denver Broncos (5-2) this coming Sunday. 

Will Chiefs soon make a big kicking change?

On Wednesday morning, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that the Chiefs were signing five-time All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. 

"Butker remains on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster," Schefter added. 

It's a surprising development for multiple reasons. During the 2024 campaign, Tucker performed like a kicker who was past his prime when he made 22-of-30 field goals (73.3 percent) and 60-of-62 PATs (96.8 percent). While he had been with the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 through the 2024 campaign, he was released in May 2025 following accusations of sexual misconduct made by 16 massage therapists.

Tucker ultimately served a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy regarding those allegations, and the 36-year-old hasn't kicked in a game since. As noted by Yahoo Sports, he denied the accusations and has never been criminally charged.

Chiefs' latest loss may have been the breaking point for their relationship with Harrison Butker

As for Butker, he has earned three career Super Bowl rings while kicking for the Chiefs since 2017. However, he missed a pair of field-goal attempts in Kansas City's 20-3 loss at the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 25. 

"He’s been one of the most consistent kickers in football," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said about Butker following the Week 7 defeat, per Ron Kopp Jr. of Arrowhead Pride. "He’s off a bit, so gotta fix it."

According to Josh Dubow of The Associated Press, Butker's 15 missed kicks (10 FGs, 5 PATs) since the start of the 2025 season are the most in the NFL. Wednesday's news may lead one to believe that Reid fears Butker won't "fix" whatever is ailing him, either before or after the Chiefs' upcoming game at the Broncos wraps up.