Jets Bolster Special Teams: Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader Join Practice Squad

At 11:11am The Jets have placed kicker Greg Zuerlein on injured reserve, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, sidelining him for at least four games.

With Zuerlein out, the team will depend on Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader to handle kicking duties in the coming weeks.

At 9:15 a.m., it was reported that, with Zuerlein struggling and now on the injury report, the Jets are bringing in multiple kickers from a Tuesday workout. Both Patterson and Shrader will join the team.

Part of a six-kicker audition, Patterson and Shrader are joining the Jets’ practice squad, as reported by NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

One of them will be elevated to the gameday roster for Thursday night, though it’s not yet clear who will fill in for Zuerlein, who remains on the team’s 53-man roster.

The Jets also worked out Cade York, Zane Gonzalez, and former Packers kicker Brayden Narveson but opted to go with the Patterson-Shrader duo.

Patterson, who has now worked out twice with the Jets this month, is accustomed to moving between teams mid-season.

He transitioned from a Lions cut to a Jaguars waiver claim in August 2022, then was traded back to Detroit during the 2023 offseason.

After being cut late last season, he briefly joined Cleveland as a replacement for Dustin Hopkins before returning to the Jaguars on a reserve/futures contract.

The Commanders claimed him in July but released him after a rough preseason.

While Patterson has experience in 39 regular-season games, Shrader has appeared in just one.

The former Notre Dame and South Florida kicker replaced an injured Matt Gay for the Colts earlier this season.

Last year, Shrader converted 15 of 22 field goals for Notre Dame, with his best season accuracy coming two years prior, when he hit 11 of 13 for South Florida.

Patterson went 16-for-18 with the Lions and Browns last season.

Despite losing his job to Michael Badgley after a preseason competition, his experience could be valuable for a Jets team facing a crucial matchup against the Texans.

Zuerlein, a decorated kicker who thrived with the Rams for nearly a decade, has struggled this season.

The 36-year-old has made just 9 of 15 field goal attempts, missing twice from inside 40 yards. His struggles have proven costly for the Jets amid their broader challenges.

Placing Zuerlein on IR could create a roster spot for the 2-6 Jets.

Releasing him outright would incur nearly $4 million in dead money, as his re-signing in March included three void years to reduce his cap hit on a two-year, $8.4 million deal.

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