For the second time in the last two weeks, the Jets will be hosting several free agent kickers as they look to find consistency at that position amid veteran Greg Zuerlein‘s continued struggles.
And this time, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich has said there will be a competition for the job ahead of New York’s Thursday night matchup with the Houston Texans.
“The beauty of the kicking area [is] you don’t need the rest these guys necessarily need, so we’ll have a competition, bring some guys in and the best guy will play on Thursday,” Ulbrich told reporters Monday.
The announcement comes after Zuerlein had another rough tough day on Sunday in New England, missing one of two extra points and missing one of two field goal attempts. (He was good from 29 yards in the first half, but missed a critical 44-yarder in the fourth quarter that would have extended New York’s lead to 19-14.)
On the year, the 13-year NFL veteran is 13-for-14 on extra points and 9-for-15 on field goals, with two misses out of six from under 40 yards and four misses out of five from beyond that. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Zuerlein has made -4.3 field goals over expectation this season, the worst mark in the league.
When asked if Zuerlein would be a part of the competition held on Tuesday, Ulbrich said they are “exploring all of the options right now.”
“We’re gonna bring the kickers in for a workout, see where they stand and make a decision after that,” he said.
After Zuerlein missed a pair of field goals (attempts from 32 and 43 yards) in swirling winds at MetLife Stadium in a 23-20 defeat to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6, the Jets hosted three kickers for workouts – Cade York, Riley Patterson and Matt Coghlin – but none were signed.
After the missed kicks against the Patriots on Sunday, the interim head coach was asked if he regretted sticking with the 36-year-old, Ulbrich said, “No, I do not.”
Accountability has been a buzzword during Ulbrich’s tenure after he assumed head coaching duties following Robert Saleh‘s firing. And when asked if that standard applies to the struggling kicker, the interim said Zuerlein’s problem isn’t an issue of effort and it isn’t just about the end product.
“Well, in my opinion, accountability is controlling the controllables,” he said. “His lack of making kicks is not a byproduct of lack of work. Not putting the time in, not devoting himself in every way of the process of trying to get right. Accountability, to me, it’s not always just the results, it’s the process. Lotta times we can’t control the results.
“There is no part of me that could ever question his process. I mean he’s as professional as they come and his process is always right and he’s as diligent as I’ve ever been around. Not just for a kicker, for anybody in any position in this game. From that standpoint, you could never question Greg. Ever.”
