Sam Ficken lands on his feet
It didn’t take too long for former New York Jets kicker Sam Ficken to find a new home.
Titans claim kicker Sam Ficken + waive kicker Blake Haubeil
Roster Moves 📰 » https://t.co/Klo3Pi7IqQ
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 1, 2021
Ficken, the Jets’ primary leg in each of the last two seasons, has been claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, per the team. The Penn State alum, set to appear in his fifth NFL season, was released by the Jets on Friday as the team signed former Oklahoma State Cowboy Matt Ammendola. In a corresponding move, the team also waived another kicker, Blake Haubeil.
The Titans, like the Jets, are looking for special teams clarity in the kicker’s role. Tennessee endured a roller-coaster season from aging Super Bowl champion Stephen Gostkowski and went into training camp with Haubeil and second-year undrafted free agent Tucker McCann competing for the job.
Ficken, 28, got off to a strong start for the Jets last season, converting each of his first nine field goal attempts over his first four games (five alone coming in an October loss to Denver). A groin injury, however, stifled his positive momentum, limiting him to only five contests for the rest of the year. In that span, he converted only 6-of-9 extra points and 4-of-6 field goals.
The Jets waived Ficken prior to their season finale in New England but signed him to a reserve/future contract following the game.
With Ficken bound for Nashville, the Jets’ kicking competition between Ammendola and Chris Naggar can officially get underway. If both kick during New York’s exhibition opener against the Giants on August 14, they will become the seventh and eighth kickers (including preseason legs) to dress for the Jets since the departure of Pro Bowler Jason Myers after the 2018 season.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags