For the second time this month, the Jets will host some free agent kickers for workouts early this week, with head coach Jeff Ulbrich saying “the best guy’ will be the team’s kicker for Thursday night’s game against Houston.
"We're exploring all options; we’re gonna bring the kickers in for a workout, see where they stand and make a decision after that," Ulbrich said. “We’ll have a competition, bring some guys in, and the best guy will play on Thursday.”
The Jets’ current kicker, Greg Zuerlein, missed both a PAT and a field goal in Sunday’s 25-22 loss to the Patriots, and he is 13-for-14 on PATs and 9-for-15 on field goals this season – including 1-for-4 from 50 yards or more, not living up to his “Legatron” nickname.
The Jets brought in two kickers who had spent time with Washington this summer and fall, Cade York and Riley Patterson, as well as Michigan State and USFL alum Matt Coghlin, for workouts after Zuerlein missed two field goals in the 23-20 loss to Buffalo two weeks ago, but none were signed – and Ulbrich said Monday he does not regret sticking with Zuerlein.
“Accountability is controlling the controllables," the interim HC said. "His lack of making kicks is not a byproduct of lack of work, not devoting himself in every way of the process of trying to get right. A lot of times we can't control the results. There is no part of me that could ever question his process. He's as professional as they come and his process is always right. From that standpoint, you could never question Greg."