FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rather than cutting kicker Greg Zuerlein, whose slump has played a key role in their disappointing season, the New York Jets simply placed him on injured reserve Wednesday with an injury that wasn't disclosed until the previous day.
The Jets' kicker for the game Thursday night against the Houston Texans will be either Riley Patterson or Spencer Shrader, both of whom were signed to the practice squad Wednesday.
They were among six kickers who auditioned for the job Tuesday at MetLife Stadium. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich was noncommittal on Zuerlein, 36, after Sunday's 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots, a game in which he missed a 44-yard field goal and an extra point.
Zuerlein's days appeared numbered, but he showed up on the injury report Tuesday. The right-footed kicker has an ailing left knee, which buys the Jets some time to sort out the kicking mess. «May the best man kick,» said Ulbrich, who didn't disclose Zuerlein's injury in a post-practice news conference Tuesday.