Jets sign two potential replacements for struggling former Pro Bowler
The New York Jets almost finally made the roster move that fans have been begging for for weeks. The New York Jets signed not one, but two kickers to their practice squad in hopes that one will give them a chance to replace Greg Zuerlein for the Jets game on Thursday against the Houston Texans. […]
The New York Jets almost finally made the roster move that fans have been begging for for weeks.
The New York Jets signed not one, but two kickers to their practice squad in hopes that one will give them a chance to replace Greg Zuerlein for the Jets game on Thursday against the Houston Texans.
The Jets chose Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader after they along with Cade York, Andre Szmyt, Zane Gonzalez and Brayden Narveson all worked out for the Jets this week, according to the NFL Network.
The signings are no surprise as the former Pro Bowler has missed six field goals this season and holds the worst field-goal percentage in the NFL among kickers with more than two attempts in 2024.
I’m not a “blame the kicker” kind of guy, and I don’t believe this Jets season would be a success if they had someone competent kicking for them this year, but the fact is that Zuerlein left far too many easy points on the field in close games. The Jets lost by three points to the New England Patriots, and he missed two kicks worth four points. The Jets lost to the Denver Broncos by one, and he missed a game winning 50-yard field goal. The Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills by three and he missed two field goals in the second half.
Shrader, 25, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an UDFA out of Notre Dame following the 2024 NFL Draft. The Colts waived him after camp before bringing him back on the practice squad and he’s bounced on and off the unit this season.
In his collegiate career, Shrader appeared in 57 games for South Florida and Notre Dame where he made 43 of his 63 field goals (68.3 percent) and 61 of 62 extra point attempts (98.7 percent). This season, Shrader has appeared in one game for the Colts, converting all three of his extra-point attempts.
Patterson, 24, wound up going undrafted out of Memphis back in 2021. He later signed a rookie contract with the Vikings but was waived coming out of the preseason.
The Patriots later signed Patterson to their practice squad before the Lions added him to their active roster in late November. Detroit waived him at the start of the 2022 season and he was later claimed by the Jaguars.
Jacksonville waived him in July and he was later claimed by the Commanders. However, Washington let him go in August when they signed Austin Seibert who by all accounts won the kicking job for the Jets in preseason, but was let go in favor of Zuerlein.
In 2023, Patterson appeared in 15 games for the Browns and Lions, converting 15 of 17 field goal attempts (88.2 percent) to go along with 35 of 37 extra point tries.
While anything can happen with this organization, it appears for the time being that they are going to replace one of the worst parts of their team this year in time for Thursday Night’s game.
UPDATE: Greg Zuerlein has not been cut, but instead placed on injured reserve for a knee issue.
It is still unclear which of the two new kickers will be signed to the active roster for Thursday Night's game against the Houston Texans.
