The New York Jets are in full-blown panic mode over their kicking game, and it is a complete mess right now. They got so desperate that they worked out three kickers on Wednesday, and get this: Justin Tucker was one of them. Yeah, *that* Justin Tucker, the five-time first-team All-Pro who started last season serving a 10-game suspension. This isn’t just a tryout; this is an absolute red alarm for the Jets.
The Bombshell: Tucker’s Controversial Return
Seriously, the Jets bringing in Justin Tucker is a massive gamble, and it screams desperation. Remember why he was suspended last season? It was a 10-game ban for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The man was accused of misconduct during massage-therapy sessions. He denied everything, was never criminally charged, and never sued civilly, but the cloud is still there. After his suspension, he had tryouts with the Saints and Colts but couldn’t land a deal. Now, the Jets are opening their doors. It makes you wonder how bad things really are for them to consider a player with that kind of baggage just as the season gets going. It shows a team absolutely scrambling to fix a critical flaw, no matter the optics.
How Did the Kicking Game Get This Bad?
This isn’t just about Tucker; it’s about the entire Jets’ kicking nightmare. Last season, Nick Folk was their guy, nailing 28-of-29 field goals, including a long of 58 yards. What did the Jets do? They let him walk in free agency. Unreal, right? They replaced him with Jason Sanders, who beat out Cade York for the job. But then Sanders went out and missed a field goal *and* an extra point in Friday’s preseason game against the Giants. You can’t make this stuff up. Sanders is already on the practice squad. They even claimed Blake Grupe off waivers earlier this week, and now they’re working out more guys. Talk about a revolving door! Michael Badgley, who kicked for the Colts and Bills last season, was also there, boasting an 83.2 percent career field goal rate with a 59-yard long. Josh Karty rounded out the trio, though his career field goal percentage sits at 79.6 percent.
This kicker carousel is a huge problem. It’s September 2nd, the regular season is here, and the Jets have no idea who is going to kick for them. They’ve gotta figure this out fast, or every close game could turn into a gut punch. The stakes are huge for them to find a reliable leg, especially after dumping a consistent guy like Folk. It’s wild to watch unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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