The New York Jets beat the Tennessee Titans 23-10 in their season opener, yet the biggest story remains a mystery. While the defense held strong, the kicking game has become a circus that refuses to stop. The team let Nick Folk walk in free agency, and since then, the position has been in constant flux. This lack of clarity is a massive distraction as the team preps for a tough Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers.
A Summer of Six Kickers
The roster moves this offseason were chaotic and confusing. The franchise brought in six different kickers just to find one solid option. For most of the summer, the job saw competition between Jason Sanders and Cade York. Both players were eventually released, which shows how desperate the search became. Only Jason Sanders signed back on the team’s practice squad after the dust settled. Following August’s roster cuts, the team claimed Blake Grupe off waivers. For Week 1, New York promoted Jason Sanders to manage kicking tasks despite Blake Grupe being on the active roster. This flip-flopping proves the coaching staff has no clear plan.
Week 1 Grit or Just Luck?
Sanders started the game with a miss, which only fueled the fire of doubt. In Week 1, he badly missed his initial field goal attempt from 54 yards out. But he did not quit. Week 1 saw him respond with two 50-plus-yard field goals, a 33-yard field goal, and both extra-point attempts connected. Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo praised Jason Sanders for bouncing back on Thursday. He specifically noted the “grit” and “resilience” Sanders showed during the game. These are good words, but they do not answer the hard question. The uncertainty regarding the kicker position is a recurring theme for the Jets.
The Silence on Sunday
The real problem is not the past performance; it is the current lack of answers. As Week 2 approaches, the team has yet to offer a clear answer regarding whose job it is. Fans and players need to know who is kicking the ball. Yet, the head of special teams refuses to give that simple fact. Chris Banjo “won’t say if Sanders will kick on Sunday,” according to reports from Sports Illustrated.
However, on Friday morning it was reported that Sanders will kick.
