The Saints have reinstated Justin Tucker for training as he becomes eligible to return from suspension on November 11. This follows accusations of sexual misconduct made against him by 16 female massage therapists.
Tucker, who is 35, received a 10-game suspension for breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy related to these allegations.
Interestingly, just last month, multiple teams expressed interest in the Super Bowl champion after the Ravens released him back in May.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Saints are also looking to acquire Cade York, a former LSU kicker. This comes after their current kicker, Blake Group, struggled and missed two field goals in a recent 24-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The claims against Tucker initially surfaced in January, when he disclosed that he faced accusations from several massage therapists at various wellness centers in the Baltimore area. The investigation was initiated by the NFL following a report received on January 9.
After these allegations came to light, Tucker publicly stated that they were “patently false,” but that statement has since been removed. In an interview, he expressed his shock and heartbreak over the situation, maintaining that he had never behaved inappropriately during any of his chiropractic sessions and had no indication of being unwelcome at any massage therapy provider.
Support has come from his wife, Amanda, who mentioned that the false accusations have deeply affected their family. “I believe in my husband, I love him and I fully support him,” she stated.
As a notable player, Tucker has earned seven Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro honors, holding the fourth-highest field goal percentage in history at 89.103% and ranking 14th for field goals made with 417.
