Jets narrow down kicker competition, say goodbye to injured linebacker

The New York Jets are whittling down their kicking competition to two veterans, after saying goodbye to Lenny Krieg on June 1, according to the New York Post's Brian Costello.

They're also waiving linebacker Kobe King, who will be designated as an injured player. He may have a chance to make his return at some point down the line this summer.

Though easily the most telling move is the Jets' parting ways with Krieg. The Jets had signed him to a futures contract in January and were clearly looking to see if they could develop the international player.

Instead, New York's kicking competition will boil down to veterans -- Journeyman veteran Cade York and longtime Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo.

Jets waive K Lenny Krieg and LB Kobe King

After last year's kicker, Nick Folk, left in free agency for the Falcons, the Jets have a mighty large hole to fill next season, considering how good Folk was for New York in the regular season.

In their attempt to replace him, they've tried out undrafted free agents and veterans, but none have been given the job quite yet.

Right now, the only two remaining on the roster, Koo and York, don't have the greatest recent sample size.

York has a career 73.3% make percentage in 23 games kicked in the NFL, not painting the most positive picture for his prospects in the kicking competition.

Koo is the more established player, owning a much longer history of proven kicking experience, but similar to York, he hasn't been all that great recently.

A career 85.3% kicker, Koo was fairly awful with the New York Giants in 2025. He made 66.7% of his kicks and had one fairly embarrassing moment against the New England Patriots late in the season.

It's possible the Jets coaching staff could help Koo regain his old form. They did the same with Folk last year and even got him to kick a career-long field goal of 58 yards.

It's also entirely possible that the Jets' Week 1 kicker isn't currently on the roster, and the Jets find him at some point down the line this summer.

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