NY Jets expected to release another veteran player soon, per report

The New York Jets are currently attempting to rebuild their offense while maintaining the talented defense they already have, but they cannot ignore the third phase of football — special teams.

This, of course, includes the kicker position, which can often be the difference between a win and a loss on any given Sunday. Greg Zuerlein has been a reliable kicker for over a decade, spending the last three seasons in New York. He delivered a solid performance in 2022, was outstanding in 2023, and battled through injuries in a frustrating 2024 campaign.

According to ESPN's Jets insider Rich Cimini on his "Flight Deck" podcast, that is likely where Zuerlein's Jets run will end.

NY Jets likely to move on from Greg Zuerlein this offseason

Cimini noted that while it’s not official yet, he expects Zuerlein to be gone within the next month and a half.

"I think they’re probably going to cut him after June 1. Now you’re thinking, why didn’t they just make him a June 1 cut already? Well, you’re only allowed two of those designations before June 1, and they used it on Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosley. So now you literally have to wait until June 1 to make a guy a June 1 cut, and if they do that with Lazard, they would save $11 million on this year’s cap as opposed to $6.6 (million), and then they would be able to spread it over two years. I think Greg Zuerlein, a kicker, is another June 1 possibility."

Rich Cimini

This would make a lot of sense considering Zuerlein struggled to stay on the field last season, only appearing in eight games due to a knee injury. He also struggled in those eight games, making just one of five attempts from 40 yards or more, and finishing with just a 60% field goal percentage overall.

The Jets also signed Anders Carlson to a futures deal in January. He joined the team from San Francisco in Week 10 last season, converting 8-of-10 field goal attempts, including 4-of-6 from 40 yards or more. He showed promise, and training camp should offer a clearer picture of his potential future moving forward.

Former Detroit Lions' kicker Michael Badgley was also brought in for a workout recently. We'll see if his ties to Aaron Glenn give him a chance of joining the Jets' kicker competition.

Neither option may be ideal, but at least the Jets have options. If they believe Zuerlein is declining or can’t stay healthy, there’s little reason to rely on him. After all, he wasn’t particularly effective even when he was on the field last season.

It was a solid enough run for Zuerlein with the Jets, highlighted by his 2023, where he eclipsed a 90% field goal percentage on 38 attempts, making 5-of-6 from beyond 50 yards.

But his 2024 performance left much to be desired, and it appears increasingly likely that there won’t be a 2025 for him as a Jet. If that’s the case, it adds yet another position to keep a close eye on throughout the offseason.

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