Overview
- Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed on Friday that Jason Sanders will be elevated from the practice squad and handle kicking duties Sunday in Nashville while Blake Grupe remains on the 53‑man roster as the on‑hand backup.
- The move is explicitly provisional because coaches want to evaluate Sanders under game conditions and preserve the competition for the job rather than immediately replace Grupe on a permanent basis.
- Sanders brings seven seasons of NFL experience and a 2020 first‑team All‑Pro season but missed all of 2025 with a hip injury and had uneven results late in the preseason, including a missed extra point and a short 54‑yard attempt.
- The Jets used practice‑squad elevation rules to start Sanders without cutting Grupe, a waiver claim from Indianapolis who has recent regular‑season experience and will serve as the team's immediate depth option.
- The decision drew sharp criticism from fans and local analysts and could affect in‑game strategy if kicking accuracy or range is uncertain; the team also confirmed that Joseph Ossai and Tim Patrick will miss the opener and Patrick was placed on injured reserve.