Jets kicker situation takes another bizarre twist, thanks to Chiefs

Of all the bad things that happened in Sunday’s 31-6 loss to the Cardinals, there was one bright spot for the Jets. Spencer Shrader, the kicker the Jets added to their practice squad to take over for Greg Zuerlein who mysteriously went on injured reserve after a disastrous stretch of misses, nailed two clutch first-half field goals.
It wasn’t much, but it was something for the Jets to feel good about heading into their Week 11 matchup with the Colts. Well, until late Thursday afternoon when Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker showed up on the injury report with a knee injury.
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Within a matter of minutes, NFL Network reported that Butker needed knee surgery that would send him to IR for three to four weeks. And ESPN reported that the Chiefs had claimed Shrader off the Jets’ practice squad to their 53-man roster.
And that means the Jets will have their fourth kicker in four weeks on Sunday when the face the Colts.
Who will it be? Likely Anders Carlson who the Jets signed to the practice squad last week. Carlson is the only kicker on the active roster or practice squad after the Jets released Riley Patterson six days ago.
Patterson made all three of his extra-point attempts in the Jets’ Week 9 win over the Texans but banged his first attempt off the upright before it careened in. He also wasn’t able to get enough distance for a touchback on any of his four kickoffs which might have had something to do with his release.
Carlson, a sixth-round pick for the Packers out of Auburn in 2023, made 27-of-33 field goals as a rookie, making every attempt inside of 40 yards but going only 7-of-13 from beyond 40 and missing five of his 39 extra-point attempts. He also missed a field goal against the 49ers that loomed large in a 24-21 divisional round loss. The Packers defended him but released him in August.
Carlson ended up signing with the 49ers practice squad in October and was their kicker in Weeks 7 and 8, making all fie of his field goal attempts including all four attempts beyond 40 yards and a career-long 55-yarder. But he also missed an extra point. Carlson was released by the 49ers on Nov. 5 and the Jets signed him to their practice squad last week.
But instead of elevating Shrader to the active roster, they left him unprotected. And the Chiefs’ decision to pick him up was clearly a move that caught the Jets by surprise; late Thursday afternoon, just before the move went down, Jets special teams coordinator told reporters he was thrilled by Shrader’s strong play Sunday when he made his first two field goal attempts in the NFL.
The Jets did offer Shrader a spot on the Jets roster, according to ESPN, which would have meant a chance to compete for the job long-term. He opted to head to the undefeated Chiefs instead even though he’ll probably be replaced as soon as Butker returns.
And now the Jets will turn to Carlson as the kicker carousel, which had stopped for a couple of years thanks to Zuerlein, is turning rapidly once again.
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Andy Vasquez may be reached at [email protected].