After Greg Zuerlein missed two crucial second-half field goal attempts in Monday’s 23-20 defeat, the Jets hosted three free-agent kickers for workouts on Wednesday.
New York had Cade York, Riley Patterson and Matt Coghlin in for workouts, but with a full roster and practice squad, there was no transaction made.
In the three-point loss to the Buffalo Bills, Zuerlein missed a pair of field goal attempts that would have put the Jets ahead, a 32-yard attempt in the third quarter and a 43-yard attempt in the fourth.
Despite the veteran’s struggles – converting just 5 of 8 attempts from beyond 30 yards – Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said he was “not concerned” with Zuerlein and has voiced nothing but support for him.
“Obviously, the kicking is not up to our standard or Greg’s standard, he knows that,” Ulbrich said on Tuesday. “He’s in a little bit of a rut and he’s gonna work his way through like he has in an amazing 13-year career.
“And we have great belief in him as an organization.”
Zuerlein said he’s “trying various things” to get back on track.
“I’ve been through ups and downs, hell and back many, many times,” the 36-year-old kicker said on Monday. “And right now it’s not good, it’s not good enough, because these guys in the locker room deserve to win. And they deserve to win another game this season.
“That bothers you as a player because you see all the hard work they put in and I’m not holding up my end of the bargain.”
Patterson has kicked in 39 games for three teams over the last three seasons, converting 59 of 67 (88.1 percent) field attempts and 93 of 97 (95.9 percent) extra points. He had a chance to earn the starting job with Washington but made just 2 of 5 attempts in preseason and was released in August.
York has appeared in 18 career games for two teams over two seasons, converting 24 of 34 attempts (70.6 percent) with 37 of 39 (94.9 percent) extra points. A fourth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2022, he struggled his rookie season before he was released and bounced around the league.
After re-signing with the Browns this offseason, he was dealt to the Commanders during the preseason. Patterson was released by Washington after missing field goal attempts of 47 and 56 yards in Week 1.
Coghlin has no NFL experience but kicked in the USFL after a five-year stint at Michigan State.
