The Jets will have a punting competition in training camp. And don’t be surprised if they have one at kicker as well.
The Jets released Thomas Morstead, the veteran punter announced on social media Tuesday afternoon. The team confirmed the move and announced they signed undrafted free agent Kai Kroger who joins Austin McNamara as the only punters on the roster.
McNamara was an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2024. Kroger went undrafted last month out of South Carolina. Neither have punted in a NFL game, and presumably will compete for the starting job in training camp.
Morstead was on his second stint with the Jets; he punted seven games for them when then-punter Braden Mann was hurt early in the 2021 season. Morstead returned to replace Mann at the start of the 2023 season and was one of the better punters in the league.
But the Jets, who have parted ways with several veterans in their 30s during training camp, decided to move on from the 39-year-old, saving the entire $2.55 million Morstead was set to make.
The Jets now have only four players 30 or older on the roster: long snapper Thomas Hennessy (30), wide receiver Josh Reynolds (30), backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor (35), and kicker Greg Zuerlein (37).
And Zuerlein’s days with the Jets might be numbered. He struggled last year, with the Jets putting him on injured reserve with a knee injury in October (an injury that had not been disclosed in the previous weeks, when Zuerlein missed several, key, late-game kicks).
The Jets used a roster spot to activate Zuerlein late in the season but he was scratched before the game when he was re-injured, according to the team. The Jets would save $2.4 million by cutting Zuerlein, but also carry $2.3 million in dead money.
The Jets also have two other kickers on the roster: veteran Anders Carlson and undrafted rookie free agent Caden Davis.
Morstead, who is entering his 14th NFL season, hinted he was not happy with the way the Jets moved on from him.
“Just got a call from the Jets that they’re moving on from me,” Morstead said. “I just want to thank all the fans, all the coaches I’ve worked with over the past few years, the teammates. It’s been awesome. It’s been a great experience. Disappointed to be moving on. Disappointed how it went down, but that’s just the way it goes in this business.”
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Andy Vasquez may be reached atavasquez@njadvancemedia.com.