After a month of juggling legs and leaving the door cracked open, the Jets have settled on Jason Sanders as their kicker - at least for now.
According to the New York Post’s Brian Costello, New York is waiving former Indianapolis Colts kicker Blake Grupe, the player it claimed after 53-man roster cuts, and signing Sanders to the active roster on Tuesday afternoon. Sanders had spent the stretch on the Jets’ practice squad after being released in late August, and after three elevations, the team was finally forced to choose.
The choice comes after Sanders put together three straight games of steady work for New York. Grupe never got onto the field in a Jets uniform.
Sanders’ path back to the job has been a winding one. The Jets had already made him their kicker once in 2026, cutting Cade York after two preseason games and leaving Sanders as the remaining competition in camp. But Sanders then had a rough preseason finale against the New York Giants, missing a 50-plus-yard field goal attempt and an extra point, which led to his release during 53-man roster cuts.
That opened the door for Grupe, who briefly occupied Sanders’ old spot on the active roster. Even so, the Jets didn’t stop using Sanders. He was back kicking in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, with Aaron Glenn pointing to his comfort level with holder Austin McNamara and Thomas Hennessy as the reason.
That gamble paid off. Sanders had one ugly shank in the opener, but he still finished 3-of-4 on field goals and made both extra points.
Since then, he’s been clean. In Weeks 2 and 3, Sanders went a perfect 5-for-5 on his kicks, converting two field goals and three extra points.
For now, the Jets are sticking with the kicker who has steadied the position after a messy few weeks. Grupe, meanwhile, is out before ever getting a chance to attempt a kick for New York.
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