Jets could have their 4th kicker in 4 games after losing Shrader to Chiefs

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets' kicking carousel is spinning again.

Anders Carlson could be the team's fourth kicker in as many games when the Jets host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

That's because Spencer Shrader, who made both of his field-goal attempts last week in his New York debut, was signed by Kansas City off the Jets' practice squad Thursday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The Chiefs needed a kicker after Harrison Butker was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had yet to announce the roster moves.

Carlson, who was signed to the Jets' practice squad last week, is likely to follow Greg Zuerlein, Riley Patterson and Shrader in New York's kicker shuffle.

Patterson, who’s a free agent, joined Austin Seibert, Ryan Santoso and Aldrick Rosas on the 2021 Detroit Lions, the most recent team to use different kickers in four straight games.

The only time the Jets have used four kickers at any point in a season was 1979, when they had Pat Leahy, Rich Szaro, Toni Linhart and Dave Jacobs.

Zuerlein was New York's kicker to start the season, but he was placed on IR with an injured non-kicking left leg on Oct. 30. Shrader and Riley Patterson were signed to the practice squad as replacements.

Patterson was signed to the active roster a few hours before the game against Houston on Oct. 31 and made both of his extra point attempts. But the Jets released him and promoted Shrader for the game at Arizona.

“I thought he handled it really well,” Jets special teams Brant Boyer said of Shrader less than 30 minutes before reports circulated that the Chiefs signed him. “Kid's got a lot of talent. I think he handled it well doing what we asked him to do and syncing up with those guys and doing a good job in the game, for sure.”

ESPN reported the Jets offered Shrader a spot on their 53-man active roster, but the kicker opted to go to the undefeated Chiefs.

Carlson was with San Francisco earlier this season and was 5 of 5 on field goal attempts and 3 of 4 on extra points in two games in place of the injured Jake Moody and Matthew Wright. He was a sixth-round pick of Green Bay last year out of Auburn and was 27 of 33 on field goals and 34 of 39 on extra points in 17 games as a rookie with the Packers.

Injuries

Wide receiver Davante Adams missed his second straight day of practice with an illness and a sore wrist, but was seen in the locker room after practice and still could play Sunday. ... LB C.J. Mosley (neck), LT Tyron Smith (neck) and OL Jake Hanson (hamstring) also remained out. ... DL Solomon Thomas (knee) and CB Brandin Echols (concussion) returned to practice on a limited basis. Also limited were CB D.J. Reed (hip), RT Morgan Moses (knee), CB Michael Carter II (back), RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and LB Chazz Surratt (heel).