There's a good chance the NY Jets would be 4-2 and in first place in the AFC East with two division wins had kicker Greg Zuerlein done his job properly. After an amazing 2023 season, Zuerlein has been so putrid in clutch situations that he has contributed to multiple losses in the team's 2-4 start.
The Jets would have beaten the Denver Broncos if Zuerlein didn't miss a game-winning field goal in a 10-9 loss against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. In a 23-20 loss against the Buffalo Bills, Zuerlein missed two field goals, including a 32-yarder that high school kickers can drill easily.
The Jets have worked out three kickers, including NFL neophyte Matt Coghlin alongside two battle-scarred young players in Riley Patterson and Cade York. This is clearly a sign that New York is not happy with Zuerlein's play, despite positive comments from Ulbrich after the Buffalo game on Monday.
However, Mike Garafolo reported that the Jets did not add any of these kickers, saying that this may have been nothing more than a warning shot fired near Zuerlein. Since he's a veteran who was good last year, Jeff Ulbrich seems willing to give him a bit more rope than most kickers in the league.
Jets working out kickers after Greg Zuerlein stinker on MNF
Zuerlein made 35 of his 38 field goals, including 18-20 from beyond 40 yards, during the 2023 season. In 2024, however, Zuerlein has gone just 8-12, with almost all of his missed coming in pivotal moments that played a direct role in what has become an incredibly disappointing season.
Coghlin spent the 2023 season with the New Orleans Breakers, coming second in the NFL in scoring before eventually finding himself out of work when the league folded. Patterson has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Lions, Browns, and Jaguars, making 88% of his kicks in that span.
York, who was once picked in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns in 2022, missed eight field goals in his rookie season and did not kick for anyone in 2023. After winning the Washington Commanders kicking job this season, he lasted just one game after missing both of his attempts.
The Jets seem committed to Zuerlein, even if they are holding his feet to the fire and confirming that he no longer has the benefit of the doubt when fourth down comes around.
