Jets add kickers Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader to replace injured Greg Zuerlein
Detroit Lions kicker Riley Patterson is hugged by holder Jack Fox after Patterson made the winning field goal as time expired against the Los Angeles Chargers last November. Credit: AP/Ashley Landis
The Jets will have a new kicker Thursday night.
They signed veteran Riley Patterson and rookie Spencer Shrader to the practice squad on Wednesday. One of them will be elevated to do the kicking when the Jets play the Texans on Thursday.
The Jets also placed struggling kicker Greg Zuerlein on injured reserve because of a left knee issue that just popped up on the injury report Tuesday.
Zuerlein’s rough start forced the Jets to hold a kicking competition over the last two days. He has missed five field goals and an extra point during the Jets’ five-game losing streak. The Jets lost by three points on Sunday in New England, where Zuerlein missed a field goal and extra point. Zuerlein is 9-for-15 on field goals this season, a 60% success rate that ranks last in the NFL among those with five or more attempts. He is 13-for-14 on point-after tries.
Patterson has kicked for the Lions, Jaguars and Browns in three NFL seasons. He has made 59 of 67 (88.1%) field-goal attempts and is 93-for-97 (95.9%) on PATs in his career.
Schrader played one game for the Colts this season and made all three of his extra points. He did not attempt a field goal. In college, Schrader hit just 69.3% of his field goal attempts (43-for-62) for South Florida and Notre Dame.
The Jets also signed linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball to the active roster and released safety Jaylen Key from the practice squad.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
