The Jets will keep their kicker around for a second season. Greg Zuerlein is staying in the Big Apple on a new deal, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
This will be the Division II product’s 12th NFL season. Zuerlein, 35, made 81% of his field goal tries in 2022. The Jets brought in Zuerlein last year, and the ex-Rams and Cowboys specialist is now positioned to kick for what could well be a much higher-profile Jet squad in 2023.
The Cowboys cut Zuerlein at this time last year, ending a two-season partnership. Zuerlein caught on with the Jets on a one-year deal worth $2MM. That agreement looks to have stopped the revolving door that existed at this Jets position since the team let Jason Myers walk in 2019. Gang Green used eight kickers from 2019-21, including three apiece in both the 2020 and ’21 seasons.
While providing a reprieve from the kicker shuffling, the strong-legged specialist played all 17 Jets games and hit the third 60-plus-yard field goal of his career. That came when he nailed a 60-yarder — a Jets-record distance — against the Vikings in December. Zuerlein hit from 60-plus twice with the Rams, but the makes came back in their St. Louis days. The former sixth-round pick has not made more than 83% of his field goal tries since 2018, however.
Greg the dregs.
Cool. Where’s our quarterback?