The Jets made their kicking decision official Tuesday, signing Jason Sanders to the active roster and waiving Blake Grupe. Sanders was the game-day kicker for each of the first three weeks while on the practice squad. The active roster move follows what the Jets had already been doing on Sundays. Cornerback Jordan Clark was also waived, and offensive linemen Nick Dawkins and Jimmy Morrissey were added to the practice squad.
Jason Sanders
The Jets September 29 report provided this background on Sanders and Grupe:
Sanders, who leads the Jets with 20 points and has connected on 5-of-6 field goal attempts, was a practice squad elevation for each of the team’s first three games. He was successful on three field goal tries – 52, 51 and 33 yards – in Tennessee and had one make from 32 yards against Green Bay. Last week against the Lions, Sanders nailed a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter. A seventh-round pick (No. 229 overall) of Miami in the 2018 NFL Draft, Sanders, a New Mexico product, ranks No. 3 in Dolphins franchise history with 826 points. His 84.6% field-goal percentage is the highest (minimum 50 attempts) in team annals, and his 221 field goals are second only to Olindo Mare.
Grupe, 5-7, 157, spent the summer in Indianapolis and was released before the Jets claimed him off waivers on Aug. 31. Initially joining the Colts’ practice squad last December, Grupe was added to the active roster on Dec. 10 and played the final five games of the 2025 season. He hit on all 11 of his field goal attempts including a franchise-long 60-yarder against the Seahawks. In 50 career games with the Saints (2023-25) and Colts (2025), Grupe has converted on 81.9% of his field goal attempts.
There is no mystery about which kicker the Jets chose once the season began. Sanders handled the field goal attempts in Tennessee, against Green Bay and in Detroit, while Grupe remained on the roster. The team has now put Sanders on the active roster and moved on from Grupe. His strong finish with Indianapolis last season is part of the story, but it did not change the Jets game-day choice through three weeks.
The move involving Clark creates another opening on the active roster. He played in two games this season and logged 17 special teams snaps. Dawkins started 28 games over his final two seasons at Penn State, while Morrissey brings NFL experience at center and guard, including four starts with Houston. Those two additions give the practice squad more depth along the offensive line as the Jets head into Week 4.
Fans are discussing Jason Sanders and the other moves in the JetNation forum. The full Jets Roster is available as the team continues to make changes.
