Kansas City Chiefs Address Kicking Struggles

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought in Justin Tucker to assess competition and performance following Harrison Butker’s recent difficulties. Butker’s season has seen challenges, with him making just 11 of 16 field-goal attempts. Four of these misses occurred in his last four games. Despite these issues, Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub has expressed his continued confidence in Butker.

“Butker is our kicker,” Toub stated in a Thursday press conference. “Our focus is on improving and getting Butker back on track.”

The Chiefs have recently tested Ben Sauls, Harrison Mevis, and Tucker to maintain healthy competition and ensure strong performance. Toub confirmed Tucker was brought in due to his notable capabilities.

“Tucker is known for being a good kicker. He’s been showcasing his skills in multiple tryouts,” Toub explained. “Both Butker and Tucker have a mutual respect for each other’s skills when they were active together in the league.”

In practice, Butker demonstrated impressive performance by going 10-for-10 on field goals during challenging weather conditions with 28 mph gusts.

The Chiefs subjected the kickers to rigorous workouts that included a variety of kick challenges. Tucker excelled, displaying remarkable accuracy.

“Tucker made all the kicks with precision. Sixty percent of his kicks were within a six-foot range in the uprights,” Toub remarked on Tucker’s accuracy.

Tucker faced a 10-game suspension due to allegations of misconduct involving female massage therapists from 2012 to 2016. He denied these claims, asserting his professionalism during sessions.

The decision to sign Tucker to the practice squad has ignited debates. Toub acknowledged the criticism but emphasized focus on the kicking unit’s performance.

Toub warned that Butker’s role remains stable, but another miss like the recent failed 45-yard attempt might prompt reassessment.

“Making the kicks is crucial, especially shorter ones,” Toub indicated, referring to the missed 45-yard field goal seen in the close game against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Chiefs prepare for their upcoming game against the Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.