Overview
- The Jets claimed kicker Blake Grupe off waivers and placed Jason Sanders on the practice squad, with Grupe viewed as the probable Week 1 starter.
- The club brought three kickers — former Ravens star Justin Tucker, veteran Michael Badgley, and Joshua Karty — into Florham Park for workouts as part of roster due diligence.
- No signing followed the tryouts and the Jets described the sessions as evaluations, leaving open the option to add a kicker before or shortly after the Sept. 13 season opener if needed.
- Justin Tucker’s workout drew attention because he is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best kickers on the field and was suspended for 10 games in 2025 after multiple misconduct allegations that he denies.
- New York’s extended search reflects a longer-term instability at kicker after letting Nick Folk depart and cycling through several candidates this offseason, which could force quick roster moves if Grupe or practice-squad depth fail under game conditions.