Only three days remain until the New York Jets kick off their 2026 season against the Tennessee Titans.
Yet, one of their most important roles is still up for grabs, according to the coaching staff.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Jets special teams coordinator Chris Banjo told the media that kickers Blake Grupe and Jason Sanders are still competing for the team’s primary job going into Sunday.
“So our kickers, love the competition that they’re in. They’ve been doing a great job coming to work, putting their hand down, and trying to be their best selves every day. And we’re excited about it,” said Banjo.”
Grupe is the lone kicker on the Jets’ active roster, while Sanders is on the practice squad.
Banjo described what the Jets are looking for in a kicker.
“Confidence and consistency,” he answered. “Just the consistency aspect in everything we’re asking them to do.”
Sanders was initially revealed as the winner of a kicking competition against Cade York. However, after missing two kicks in the Jets’ final preseason game, the Jets released him and claimed Grupe off waivers, while signing Sanders back to the practice squad.
Sanders has kicked in 116 NFL games since 2018, all for the Miami Dolphins, making 84.6% of his field goal attempts and 96.6% of his extra point attempts. In his latest season, 2024, he made 90.2% of his attempts, including 12 of 14 from 50+ yards, but he suffered a hip injury in 2025 that cost him the entire season.
Grupe has logged 50 games since the 2023 season, mostly for the New Orleans Saints. He made 79.8% of his field goal attempts and 97.7% of his extra points for the Saints. To close the 2025 season, he made all 11 of his field goals and all 10 of his extra points for the Colts, including all four of his 50+ yard attempts with a long of 60 yards.
