Jets release Riley Patterson, sign Anders Carlson as bizarre kicking mess continues

The Jets’ kicking saga will get another chapter. 

They released Riley Patterson and signed Anders Carlson to the practice squad Friday, and with Greg Zuerlein on injured reserve, that means either Carlson or Spencer Shrader — also on the practice squad — will kick when the Jets face the Cardinals on Sunday.

Patterson won the six-man kicking competition last week that was prompted by Zuerlein’s struggles, and he made all three of his extra points during the Jets’ Week 9 win. He did not attempt a field goal.

Carlson, though, wasn’t involved in the original tryout.

The former Packer and sixth-round pick in 2023 had landed in San Francisco earlier in October, bouncing back and forth between the 49ers’ practice squad and active roster for two games as injured kicker Jake Moody’s replacement.

Carlson connected on all five of his field goals — with four from at least 40 yards — and made three of his four extra-point attempts.

But San Francisco released Carlson, the brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, on Tuesday with Moody expected back.

As a rookie with Green Bay, he went 27-for-33 on field goals and missed five of his 39 extra points, too, and those struggles prompted the Packers to make a change before the 2024 season began.

The Jets also signed defensive lineman Bruce Hector — who made four tackles as a practice-squad elevation during their Week 3 win against the Patriots — to the active roster.