The New York Jets have ended their kicking competition, releasing Blake Grupe and signing Jason Sanders to the active roster.
The move was not a surprise. Sanders had been elevated from the practice squad three times this season to kick on Sundays, the maximum allowed by the NFL before a mandatory signing to the active roster. He has performed well, except for a dying duck kick in the first game against Tennessee, including a 32-yard field goal against Green Bay in adverse weather conditions.
Gang Green has been searching for a reliable kicker since inexplicably letting nearly automatic Nick Folk leave for the Atlanta Falcons this year. Folk was 28 of 29 in field goals, including 7-8 from beyond 50 yards. The Jets offered just a one-year deal for the 41-year-old Folk, who opted for a two-year contract from the Falcons and a chance to kick indoors.
Sanders was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins out of New Mexico. In college, he converted 25 of 35 field goals and 111 of 112 extra points. He led the nation in touchback percentage as a junior and senior.
He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 after hitting 36 of 39 field goals (92.3%). He also caught a 1-yard touchdown pass on a trick play in 2019.
Sanders missed the 2025 season because of a hip injury, then signed with the New York Giants in March 2026. He was waived by the Jints in June 2026 and signed with the Jets.
Grupe is 27 and is listed at 5-7 and 156 pounds. He reminded older fans of diminutive kicker Garo Yepremian of the Miami Dolphins.
He was a walk-on at Arkansas State, then transferred to Notre Dame for his final season. He was undrafted, but signed with the New Orleans Saints and kicked for them for two and a half seasons before going to the Indianapolis Colts. He was waived in late August and signed by the Jets, who were wary of the kickers they had in camp.
They’ve now settled on Sanders to handle their needs.
