Jason Sanders will handle the kicking duties when the New York Jets open the regular season against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but head coach Aaron Glenn isn’t ready to declare the team’s kicking competition over. Glenn confirmed Friday that Sanders, who is currently on the practice squad, will get the first opportunity against Tennessee. Blake Grupe remains on the 53-man roster after the Jets claimed him off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts late last month.
“Jason will kick this week. He’s had most of the reps. The thing is, Grupe, I want to make sure he gets a solid chance. He just got here last week. He hasn’t had a lot of chances to really get a lot of work with Henny and Mac. I want to make sure that I give him the proper chance for the competition. I want to let this thing play out, but Jason will be kicking this week.”
Henny is Jets long snapper Thomas Hennessy, while Mac is punter and holder Austin McNamara. Glenn’s comments make it clear that familiarity with the operation played a role in the decision. Sanders has been working with the Jets since June, while Grupe has had less than two weeks with the team.
Jason Sanders Survives Another Kicking Competition
This is actually the second kicking competition Sanders has been through with the Jets in a matter of weeks. Throughout training camp, Sanders battled Cade York for the job. It was a close competition with both kickers having strong days and occasional misses. In one early camp practice, York went 6-for-6 while Sanders made five of six, with his only miss coming from 48 yards.
Later in camp, Sanders had one of his better days when he went 5-for-5, connecting from distances ranging from 35 to 60 yards, while York went 4-for-5 and missed from 55. The Jets eventually waived York on August 25, seemingly handing the job to Sanders.
That didn’t last long.
Sanders missed an extra point and came up short on a 54-yard field goal in the preseason finale against the Giants. The Jets subsequently claimed Grupe, released Sanders, and then brought Sanders back on the practice squad. Now the veteran has worked his way back into the Week 1 job.
Sanders brings plenty of NFL experience. He spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins from 2018 through 2024, making 84.6 percent of his field goal attempts and earning First-Team All-Pro honors during his career. For now, the Jets have their answer for Tennessee. Beyond Sunday, Glenn clearly intends to keep evaluating both kickers.
Jets fans are already discussing Jason Sanders in the JetNation forums. The Week 1 kicking assignment is the latest chapter in a competition that has lasted throughout the summer.
