Jets work out Justin Tucker with kicking situation unsettled

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Sep 2, 2026

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — Entering the season, Gang Green’s kicking situation remains unsettled.

The team signed Blake Grupe to the active roster this week, but that didn’t stop it from working out several kickers on Wednesday.

Sources confirmed that the Jets brought eight-time All-Pro and former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker in for a workout. They also worked out former Chargers kicker Michael Badgley and former Rams kicker Joshua Karty.

None of the kickers were signed as the team was doing its “due diligence” on the available options.

Tucker, 36, was the most prominent name among the group. He last kicked in the NFL in 2024, when he converted a career-low 73.3% of his field-goal attempts, making 22 of 30.

The Ravens released Tucker during the 2025 offseason after 13 seasons amid a league investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct made by multiple women. He denied the allegations, calling them “unequivocally false” and “simply not true.” But that did not prevent the NFL from suspending him for 10 games for violating its personal conduct policy.

The Jets are one of several teams Tucker has recently worked out for. He also had workouts with the Saints and Colts but did not land a job with either team.

In 13 seasons, Tucker has made 89.1% of his field-goal attempts, including 64 of 96 from 50 yards or longer. He ranks third in NFL history in field-goal percentage behind Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker (93.5%) and 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (89.7%).

Badgley has converted 83.2% of his career field-goal attempts, with a career-long of 59 yards. He played two games for the Bills last season before being released in December. Badgley has also played for the Colts, Lions, Bears, and Titans in addition to the Chargers and Bills.

Karty has made 79.6% of his field-goal attempts, with a career-long of 58 yards, and converted 88.7% of his extra-point attempts in 25 games with the Rams. Los Angeles released him after eight games last season.

The Jets’ kicking issues began after they allowed Nick Folk, their kicker last season, to sign with the Falcons in free agency. Folk made 28 of 29 field-goal attempts in 2025.

During training camp, Jason Sanders and Cade York competed for the vacant kicking job. Sanders ultimately won the competition, but both players struggled during practices and preseason games. Sanders missed an extra point and came up five yards short on a 54-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter of the preseason finale against the Giants.

Sanders was signed to the Jets’ practice squad after being released this week.