Full Breakdown
New York Jets Evaluate Kicking Options, Including Veteran Justin Tucker
9/2/2026, 11:56:08 PM
Core Event
The New York Jets invited three kickers to work out at their Florham Park facility: eight-time All-Pro Justin Tucker, veteran Michael Badgley and former Rams specialist Joshua Karty. The workouts were part of the team’s “due-diligence” process as they seek a permanent solution for the kicking position. The Jets have already claimed Blake Grupe off waivers and placed former starter Jason Sanders on the practice squad, but no new contracts were announced following the tryouts.
Background & Context
The Jets entered the offseason without a clear kicker after allowing Nick Folk to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Folk had been reliable, converting 28 of 29 field-goal attempts the previous season. In training camp, Jason Sanders beat out Cade York for the job, but a missed field goal and extra point in the preseason finale led to Sanders’ release and the subsequent claim of Grupe. The team’s kicking carousel this year has included signings and releases of Lenny Krieg, Will Ferrin, Younghoe Koo, Cade York and Sanders, underscoring the urgency of finding a stable option.
Data & Statistics
- Justin Tucker – 13-season career field-goal percentage of 89.1%, the third-highest in NFL history. In the 2024 season he made 22 of 30 attempts (73.3%) and missed two extra points, the lowest conversion rate of his career.
- Michael Badgley – career field-goal accuracy of 83.2% with a long of 59 yards; extra-point success rate of 94% across 73 NFL games.
- Joshua Karty – career field-goal accuracy of 79.6% with a long of 58 yards; extra-point success rate of 88.7% in 25 games.
- Blake Grupe – spent the final five games of the 2025 season with Indianapolis after a release from New Orleans in November; previously a kicker for the Saints in 2023-24.
Official Statements & Responses
- Justin Tucker – In a social-media post, Tucker called the massage-therapy allegations “unequivocally false” and described the media coverage as “desperate tabloid fodder.”
- Jets organization – A team source indicated that the workouts are part of the Jets’ “due-diligence” in evaluating available kicking talent, with no immediate signing expected while Blake Grupe receives a “real shot” at the Week 1 job.
Criticism & Opposition (Allegations)
Multiple massage therapists in the Baltimore area have alleged that Tucker engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct during sessions spanning 2012-2016. Sixteen therapists from eight spas have provided accounts of alleged genital exposure and other misconduct. The NFL responded by suspending Tucker for ten games under its personal-conduct policy. No criminal charges were filed, and Tucker has denied all allegations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports differ on the timeline of the allegations: one source noted an initial six therapists coming forward, followed by three more and then seven additional accounts, while another source summarized the total as sixteen therapists without detailing the incremental disclosures. No further details have been released regarding any ongoing investigations or potential civil actions.
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The Jets’ continued search for a reliable kicker reflects a broader pattern of turnover at the position, and the inclusion of a high-profile but controversial veteran like Tucker highlights the balance the team seeks between proven talent and off-field considerations.
