Chiefs Say Harrison Butker Remains Kicker After Signing Justin Tucker to Practice Squad
Photo: Fox NewsKansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Thursday that Harrison Butker remains the team's kicker, a day after the club signed free agent Justin Tucker to its practice squad. Butker missed two field goals in Sunday night's 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, a 58-yarder that fell short and a 45-yarder pushed wide right. He is 11-for-16 this season, a 68.8% success rate that is the worst of his 10-year career. Tucker, an eight-time All-Pro, will not kick Sunday when the Chiefs visit the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Coach Andy Reid said this week that Butker would probably keep the job. Toub said the team brought in Tucker to help Butker get right, and that Butker went 10-for-10 in Wednesday's practice despite 28-mph wind gusts with Tucker watching. Tucker was suspended by the NFL last season over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The right-leaning New York Post and Fox News both describe the Tucker signing as controversial and bring up his past allegations. The Post's headline refers to the "controversial" signing, and it adds the Broncos game's AFC West stakes and Butker's own comments on his warmup and swing. Fox's headline cites Tucker's "off the charts" workout, and its text notes four of Butker's misses came in his last four games and refers to commentator Craig Carton criticizing the team. The left-leaning Washington Post, in the excerpt available, stresses Toub's emphatic statement that Butker is still preferred and does not mention Tucker's past. All three quote Toub's "Butker is our kicker" line and the 10-for-10 practice. The main difference is that the right foregrounds the controversy around Tucker, while the left foregrounds the coach's commitment to Butker. CBS Sports and Newsweek also add Reid's comment and the three-candidate tryout.
How the sides differ Right sources stress Tucker's controversial past and the signing backlash; left and alternative sources focus on Toub's backing of Butker and Tucker's role in fixing him.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
The Washington Post leads with Toub's emphatic statement that Butker is still the preferred kicker even after Tucker joined the practice squad, and its excerpt features only the coach.
CBS Sports and Newsweek center on Toub's backing of Butker, adding Reid's comment, the three-candidate tryout, Butker's stats and the idea that Tucker could help Butker recover.
- Fox NewsChiefs coordinator backs Harrison Butker as starter despite Justin Tucker's 'off the charts' workout
The New York Post and Fox News call the Tucker signing controversial and cite his past misconduct allegations, alongside Toub's support for Butker; Fox adds commentator Craig Carton's criticism and the Post adds Butker's own comments.