Dave Toub: Harrison Butker Is Still the Chiefs' Kicker Despite Justin Tucker Signing
Kansas City's special teams coordinator said the Tucker move is about getting Butker right, though Tucker is ready if the struggles continue
Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub left no doubt Thursday about who's kicking Sunday. A day after Kansas City signed Justin Tucker to its practice squad, Toub said Harrison Butker is still the guy, as ESPN's Nate Taylor reported.
Butker has missed five of 16 field-goal attempts this season, including misses from 58 and 45 yards in Sunday night's loss to the Seahawks. He said afterward that his misses come when he swings too hard.
Toub didn't downplay what Tucker showed him, though. He said Tucker made every kick in a 30-kick tryout that included seven attempts from beyond 50 yards and one from 60, calling him "off-the-charts good." Toub also pointed out that Tucker's last season, 2024, was the worst of his career, when he made 22 of 30 field goals, and said Tucker had "a lot of things going on at that time, mentally."
The two kickers have been working together in practice, trading notes on technique. Part of the reason for putting Tucker on the practice squad, Toub explained, is to let him build timing with long snapper James Winchester and punter Matt Araiza in case he's needed.
That could come quickly. Andy Reid suggested Wednesday that if Butker keeps struggling against Denver, Tucker could kick the following week against the Jets. Sunday's game against the Broncos will decide first place in the AFC West, which makes Butker's leash a real storyline.