NEW YORK (AP) On Thursday, the NFL suspended Justin Tucker, a former kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, for the first 10 weeks of the season due to his violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Tucker can be reinstated on November 11 after the suspension begins on August 26, which is roster cutdown day. Tucker is still free to sign a contract and try out for a team. He can go to training camp and play in preseason games if he signs. He can still serve the punishment and make a comeback in November if he doesn’t have a team.
Following reports that he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by massage therapists, the Ravens cut the 35-year-old last month, making him a free agent. Tucker has insisted that during his professional treatment, he did not behave inappropriately.
Tucker has spent his whole 13-year career with Baltimore and has been named an All-Pro five times. Despite having his poorest season in 2024, he is regarded as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history.
Since January, Tucker has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by over a dozen massage therapists, according to the Baltimore Banner.
Tucker’s spokesperson was contacted Thursday to request comment.
Tucker’s suspension was comparable to that of Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was given an NFL suspension for the first 11 games of the 2022 campaign. When he played for the Texans in Houston, he was accused by over two dozen women of harassing and sexually assaulting them during massage therapy sessions. His indictment was rejected by two grand juries.
A disciplinary officer first gave Watson a six-game suspension. The NFL requested a ban of at least a year. The league appealed the first decision, and a settlement was made.
After Tucker was cut by the Ravens, coach John Harbaugh stated that the organization had been worried about a potential suspension and that the decision-making process was complicated.
Harbaugh stated late last month, “I think if you take a step back and look at all the issues and all the ramifications, you can understand that we’ve got to get our football team ready and we’ve got to have a kicker ready to go.” We made the decision to take that action.
