The Jets’ kicking battle looked like it could stay messy all the way through training camp, but Tuesday morning gave the team something it hasn’t had much of at that spot this offseason: real clarity.
Jason Sanders and Cade York both came through in practice, and the numbers told the story. Sanders was flawless, knocking through all eight of his field goal attempts from 32 to 60 yards. York was nearly as sharp, finishing 7-for-8 with his lone miss coming from 43 yards.
“Impressive kicking display: Sanders goes 8 for 8 on FGs ranging from 32 to 60 yards. York goes 7 for 8, only miss from 43.
Kicking competition is neck and neck. Or leg and leg.”
That’s a notable turn for a Jets team that has spent the offseason cycling through kickers after Nick Folk left in free agency for the Atlanta Falcons. New York didn’t match or top the Falcons’ two-year, $9 million offer, even though Folk had been one of the team’s best performers in the 2025 season.
Since then, the Jets have kept searching. York arrived in March, and Sanders entered the picture after the Giants released him in June.
At first glance, neither move looked like the kind that would settle things quickly. York has only two NFL seasons on his resume and owns a career field goal percentage of 73.3%.
Sanders, meanwhile, missed the entire 2025 season with an injury and hadn’t appeared in an NFL game in almost two years.
Still, Tuesday’s session suggested the Jets may already have their top two options in house. Sanders clearly had the cleaner day, but York has also been showing well lately, keeping this thing tight.
For now, the battle appears to be less about finding another name and more about who can stay steady. New York may not need a new leg after all. It just needs one of these two to hold up through camp and the preseason.
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