Spencer Shrader is now up next in the New York Jets’ ongoing kicker situation.
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Friday that Shrader is expected to be the team’s kicker for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals after another change at the position.
Riley Patterson, who successfully made all three of his extra-point attempts last week against Houston, was released after just one game filling in for the injured Greg Zuerlein. Patterson had won a mid-week competition over Shrader before the Jets’ 21-13 win over the Texans.
Shrader is currently on the practice squad, but he is likely to either be promoted or signed to the active roster before the game against the Cardinals. The Jets also signed former Packers and 49ers kicker Anders Carlson to the practice squad.
“We’re just looking for a live leg, you know?” Ulbrich said. “So we brought in a guy that’s got a live leg that’s kicked in the NFL. And we think Spencer Shrader, same, has a live leg.
“So, that’s what it came down to — the strength of the leg, and Shrader kicked very well today. So I think he’ll get the nod on Sunday.”
Shrader originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts in April as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame. He kicked three extra points for the Colts in their season opener against the Texans, which was his only NFL appearance.
Carlson was most recently with the San Francisco 49ers, where he went 5 of 5 on field goals and 3 of 4 on extra points in two games, filling in for injured kickers Jake Moody and Matthew Wright. Carlson was released by the 49ers on Tuesday.
Carlson was drafted in the sixth round by Green Bay last year after playing at Auburn. As a rookie with the Packers, he made 27 of 33 field goals and 34 of 39 extra points over 17 games.
Greg Zuerlein had been a solid and reliable kicker for the Jets over the last two seasons but struggled this year after re-signing with New York in March on a two-year deal. He missed four of his last seven field goal attempts in the past three games before being placed on injured reserve due to an injury to his left, non-kicking leg.
“Z was coming off of a career year last year, and we all still believe in Z,” general manager Joe Douglas said Wednesday.
“Obviously, (he) struggled with some of the mechanics and had a little tweak here, so I think this is a good opportunity for him to kind of hit the reset button. And no one’s given up on Zuerlein coming back here and helping us win games and possibly win a championship.”
In another move, the Jets also signed defensive lineman Bruce Hector from the practice squad to the active roster. Hector has recorded three tackles in one game played this season.
