NY Jets prove they learned a valuable lesson with their new kicker

One of the fatal flaws of the 2024 NY Jets season has been the team's lack of attention to detail. From on-field gaffes to off-field blunders, the Jets' organization has repeatedly failed to master the art of simplicity.

That much was on full display last week when the Jets inexplicably lost their starting kicker, Spencer Shrader, to the Kansas City Chiefs after he was signed off the team's practice squad.

Shrader had just put together a perfect debut for the Jets after replacing Riley Patterson, who was brought in to replace the struggling Greg Zuerlein. But rather than proactively sign Shrader to their 53-man roster, they opted to keep him on the practice squad for another week. That proved to be a mistake.

Shrader was poached by the Chiefs despite a last-ditch effort by the Jets to sign him. The team replaced him with former Green Bay Packers sixth-round pick Anders Carlson, who kicked in the Jets' Week 11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. This time around, the Jets clearly learned their lesson.

The NY Jets took no chances with Anders Carlson

The Jets officially signed Carlson to their 53-man roster on Monday, just 24 hours after he made a Jets home game-record 58-yard field goal in his team debut. They released defensive tackle Bruce Hector in a corresponding move.

The Jets could have theoretically saved a roster spot, much like they did with Shrader, with two more practice squad elevations in their back pocket. They didn't have to sign Carlson to their active roster just yet. But they learned their lesson.

Carlson was a perfect 2-of-2 on field goals and 3-of-3 on extra points in Sunday's loss to the Colts. He's connected on 7-of-7 field goal attempts in 2024 if you include the two games he played with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year.

The Jets have struggled to find a reliable kicker this season. Zuerlein followed up what was statistically the best season by a kicker in franchise history in 2023 with a league-worst performance in 2024.

The 13-year veteran made just one kick longer than 40 yards before he was placed on the injured reserve with a phantom knee injury. In reality, the Jets didn't want to eat the dead money and preferred to give him an opportunity to clear his head and reset.

But if Carlson continues to impress, the Jets will have no reason to turn back to Zuerlein. There's every reason to believe Carlson has a chance to be the long-term kicker in New York.

Carlson was actually selected with one of the draft picks sent to Green Bay in the Aaron Rodgers trade last year. He struggled in his rookie season, missing six field goals and five extra points before losing the starting job the following summer.

The Jets are hoping Carlson can follow a similar career trajectory to his brother, Daniel, who was similarly drafted and released by an NFC North team after just one season. The elder Carlson would go on to become one of the best kickers in the NFL with his second team, the Las Vegas Raiders.

After embarrassingly losing their previous kicker, the Jets ensured Anders Carlson wouldn't meet the same feat. He's now locked into a 53-man roster spot and will be the team's kicker moving forward.

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