The New York Jets believed they had their kicking competition settled. Earlier this week, the organization elected to move forward with veteran Jason Sanders and part ways with Cade York, ending a summer-long battle for the starting job. One preseason game later, questions surrounding the position have returned.
Sanders struggled during his team's 23-6 preseason loss to the New York Giants. After the Jets scored their lone touchdown of the evening, he pushed the extra-point attempt wide.
Later, he missed his only field-goal attempt of the game, a 54-yarder that came up short. One rough preseason performance doesn't erase an entire body of work, but it did little to inspire confidence heading into Week 1.
As a result, some have begun wondering whether
the Jets could continue evaluating options before final roster cuts are complete. Jets insider Zack Rosenblatt recently highlighted several kicking situations around the league that could create opportunities for teams still looking for answers.
NFL teams with multiple kickers on the roster before cuts — aka some options for the Jets:
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 29, 2026
- Giants: Dominic Zvada, Ben Sauls
- Colts: Blake Grupe, Spencer Shrader
- Saints: Daniel Carlson, Charlie Smyth, Tanner Brown
- Raiders: Matt Gay, Kansei Matsuzawa
Across town, Dominic Zvada appears to have won the Giants' kicking competition, potentially making Ben Sauls available. Elsewhere, Blake Grupe seems to have the edge over Spencer Shrader on the New Orleans Saints' roster. Daniel Carlson currently sits atop the Las Vegas Raiders' depth chart, while other teams around the league are still sorting through their own competitions.
Teams are currently shaving players off their roster, so the names of players who are available may change. The Jets may ultimately decide that Sanders remains their best option, but they also may still have some guys they can look at if they decide he doesn't.
Final roster cuts often create unexpected opportunities. If another kicker becomes available and the Jets aren't fully convinced they've solved the position, they would be wise to at least explore the market. After Friday night's performance, it would be surprising if they weren't paying attention. After everything that has happened during the summer, some may argue they should be.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jason Sanders was rough, who could the Jets sign?
