Justin Tucker Works Out for the New York Jets: What a Return Could Mean for the Kicking Market and the Team’s Season

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. The Jets’ Workout: What Happened and Why It Matters
4. Tucker’s Recent Decline and the Circumstances of His Release
5. The Jets’ Kicking Picture: Why They Called Tucker In
6. What Justin Tucker’s Career Record Shows—and What It Doesn’t
7. Technical Assessment: Why Kickers Succeed or Fail
8. Timeline and Mechanics of Signing a Veteran Kicker
9. How Teams Weigh Off-Field Concerns
10. The Market for Veteran Kickers: Supply, Demand and Economics
11. Potential Outcomes for the Jets and Tucker
12. How a Tucker Return Could Change Game Scripts
13. Player Development and Mechanics Work: Can Tucker Rebuild?
14. Public and Locker-Room Dynamics
15. League-Wide Implications: If Tucker Returns, How Will Other Teams React?
16. Scouting Takeaways: What Coaches and Special-Teams Coordinators Look For Now
17. Scenarios for the Remainder of the Season: What to Watch For
18. Fan and Media Response: Managing Expectations
19. Lessons for Teams Facing Similar Choices
20. What This Means for Tucker’s Legacy
21. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• Veteran Justin Tucker, out of the NFL since 2024, participated in a New York Jets workout alongside Michael Badgley and Josh Karty; the Jets did not sign any of the kickers immediately.
• Tucker’s 2024 season was the worst of his career (22-for-30, 73.3%); he was released during the 2025 offseason amid allegations he denies. The Jets already have Blake Grupe and Jason Sanders on their roster/practice squad.
• A Tucker signing would carry on-field upside—elite range and proven accuracy over his career—balanced against questions about recent performance, age, and off-field scrutiny. Teams weigh these factors differently when deciding roster moves.

Introduction

The Jets’ decision to invite Justin Tucker to a workout reinserted one of the NFL’s most debated subjects into the conversation: can a veteran kicker who has owned the league for years reclaim his former dominance after a steep fall and an extended absence? Tucker’s name still carries weight among coaches, special-teams coordinators and fans—his career exploits produced highlight-reel kicks and game-deciding moments. Yet a 2024 season that produced a career-low field-goal percentage, followed by his 2025 release amid allegations he denies, leaves his path back to a consistent NFL role anything but certain.

This article examines the context of the workout, Tucker’s historical and recent performance, what the Jets’ current kicking situation looks like, the calculus NFL teams use when deciding whether to bring back veteran specialists, and the scenarios that could play out if a signing occurs. The analysis blends technical evaluation of kicking, roster and salary mechanics that matter for late additions, and the broader public and organizational considerations that influence such decisions.

The Jets’ Workout: What Happened and Why It Matters

On Aug. 2, the New York Jets hosted a kicking workout that included Justin Tucker and two other veterans—Michael Badgley and Josh Karty. None of the three were signed immediately. The session is part of a familiar pattern across the league: teams audition veteran kickers in group workouts during training camp to assess leg strength, accuracy and technique under a coach’s eye and in the presence of special-teams staff. For the Jets, the timing and composition of the tryout reveal both a short-term personnel need and a willingness to consider an experienced option.

The Jets currently maintain two kickers in their organization: Blake Grupe, claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts, and Jason Sanders, a 2020 All-Pro who, after a rough preseason, has been relegated to the practice squad. That depth chart suggests the Jets are not fully confident in either player as a long-term answer and were open to adding competition. Workouts like this let a coaching staff compare live ball-striking, kickoff distance and directional skill, as well as how a kicker responds to situational kick requests—long attempts, short field-goal pressure and onside-situation kicks.

Why Tucker? The name still resonates for reasons beyond nostalgia. Over the course of his career he has demonstrated range that few kickers can match and an accuracy rate that, across his years of reliability, situates him among the more effective specialists in NFL history. Bringing him in allowed the Jets to assess whether that package might return to form and whether the potential reward outweighs the risks.

Tucker’s Recent Decline and the Circumstances of His Release

Justin Tucker last played in the NFL during the 2024 season, finishing that year 22 of 30 on field-goal attempts—a 73.3% conversion rate, the lowest of his career. For a player whose career mark is 89.1% on field goals, the 2024 performance represents a pronounced deviation. The Ravens released Tucker during the 2025 offseason amid an NFL investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct; Tucker has denied those allegations.

The sequence matters: a visibly poor season raises on-field questions about whether a kicker’s technique, confidence or physical condition has eroded. Releasing a veteran because of an off-field investigation compounds the uncertainty for potential suitors. Teams considering signing a player in this position must weigh medical and mechanical reports, tape from prior seasons, recent practice measurements, and the reputational and legal exposure a club could inherit.

Tucker has pursued opportunities since his release, working out for the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, without landing a contract. Each team’s decision not to sign him reflects its internal evaluation—some combination of performance on the field during tries, risk tolerance for off-field issues, and roster calculus.

The Jets’ Kicking Picture: Why They Called Tucker In

The Jets’ decision to audition multiple veteran kickers suggests an unsettled kicking situation. Blake Grupe, acquired via waivers from the Colts, represents a younger option who showed enough promise to attract interest. Jason Sanders, once an All-Pro in 2020, has had an uneven stretch and was placed on the practice squad after preseason struggles. Having two names on the roster does not preclude the team from seeking improvement; kickers occupy a single roster spot and can swing the outcome of close games across a season.

Bringing Tucker in accomplishes several things:

• It establishes a clear benchmark: Coaches can directly compare Tucker’s performance to that of their current options.
• It increases competition: Even the perception of competition can sharpen a kicker’s focus, improving snap-to-kick timing and results in practice.
• It signals organizational ambition: Teams vying for playoff positioning often prefer veteran experience in high-leverage situations.

The Jets will consider kicking beyond just field goals. Kickoff distance and touchback percentage, directional ability on kickoffs, and onside kick execution are all parts of the special-teams equation. Tucker’s proven ability to deliver deep kickoffs and strong directional control historically adds appeal.

A signing would force roster decisions. Carrying two kickers on the 53-man roster for an extended stretch is rare; teams normally keep one kicker, one punter and maybe an emergency placekicker on the practice squad. Whatever choice the Jets make must balance performance, roster flexibility and wage considerations.

What Justin Tucker’s Career Record Shows—and What It Doesn’t

Tucker’s career 89.1% field-goal percentage stands among the best marks for NFL kickers who have sustained success over multiple seasons. His long-range production also separates him from many contemporaries: a career conversion of 64 of 96 (66.7%) on attempts from 50-plus yards is an outlier in its combination of volume and efficiency.

Those numbers capture two essential strengths: accuracy and range. Accuracy matters for consistency on mid-range kicks—between 30 and 49 yards—while range affects the calculus on longer attempts and end-of-half situations when a kicker is asked to beat the clock from distances others won’t attempt. Tucker’s leg has enabled coaches to attempt field goals that would otherwise be punts or fourth-down conversions.

What the aggregate statistics do not capture is trajectory. A career percentage anchored by seasons of near-perfect kicking can mask a sudden decline. A single poor season that includes misses in close games can have outsized effects on perception and on the decision-making of front offices. Similarly, long-term trends—changes in plant foot mechanics, toe contact, hip rotation, or kickoff technique—are rarely apparent in aggregate numbers until they surface in a large enough sample of live-game misses.

Because kicking is a process with small margins, teams place weight on recent practice measurements: ball velocity, hang time, accuracy drills, and performance under simulated pressure. For a kicker trying to return from a down year, being able to demonstrate repeatable technique and consistent results in practice can matter as much as prior accolades.

Technical Assessment: Why Kickers Succeed or Fail

The technical profile of a kicker combines biomechanics, neuromuscular control and environmental adaptation. The operation—snap, hold, kick—requires millisecond synchronization. Any disruption in that chain affects trajectory and timing.

Key technical factors include:

• Plant-foot position and stability: a misaligned plant can change launch angle.
• Hip rotation and follow-through: these influence power and accuracy.
• Toe-to-ball contact: centered contact produces predictable trajectories; off-center strikes produce hooks, slices and reduced distance.
• Consistency of approach steps: repeatable steps build muscle memory.
• Mental process: confidence affects aggression and decision-making on long attempts.

Age can affect these elements in nuanced ways. A 36-year-old kicker may maintain leg strength but lose a degree of muscle elasticity or reactive quickness. Workload and wear—particularly for players who log many long attempts over a career—can alter mechanics. Conversely, experience provides procedural and situational advantages: rhythm under pressure, an ability to clear the mind in clutch moments, and refined pre-kick routines.

Environmental factors complicate evaluation. Wind, surface (grass vs. turf), stadium specifics (e.g., narrower goalposts in some images though they are uniform), and snapper/holder reliability influence outcomes. Special-teams coaches evaluate how well a kicker adjusts to these variables and whether his technique is adaptable.

For Tucker, the questions center on whether his mechanics shifted in ways that produced the 2024 downturn and whether those changes are reversible through focused coaching. Workouts and private film sessions are the primary avenues teams use to answer that question.

Timeline and Mechanics of Signing a Veteran Kicker

When a team contemplates signing a veteran kicker mid-training camp or early in the season, several practical steps and constraints come into play:

• Physical evaluation: Teams require medical checks to ensure there is no underlying injury. For kickers, hamstring, hip, groin and knee health are scrutinized.
• Contract structure: Veteran-minimum deals with little guaranteed money are common. Teams can protect themselves with non-guaranteed contracts or workout-pay arrangements. Signing a kicker to a multi-year guaranteed deal late in camp is rare.
• Roster impact: Adding a kicker requires a corresponding roster move. If a team has an incumbent struggling in preseason, they may cut that player in favor of the veteran following a tryout. Alternatively, a team can keep both through the start of the season to evaluate in-game performance.
• Practice-squad rules: Modern practice-squad regulations allow teams to retain veteran players with some limitations. This provides a low-risk way to stash a veteran who needs time to rebuild conditioning and timing with a team.
• Game-day activation: If a team signs a veteran to the practice squad and wants him on the active roster, they must promote him and adjust the 53-man roster accordingly. Timing matters because teams will not want to disrupt chemistry unless the veteran clearly improves the probability of winning.

The Jets’ camp workout suggests they are in an evaluation phase. Any eventual signing will reflect the outcome of that assessment and the cost-benefit analysis compared to retaining or trusting current options.

How Teams Weigh Off-Field Concerns

When off-field allegations surface, teams evaluate through both legal and public-relations lenses. The NFL has a personal-conduct policy that can result in league discipline independent of criminal convictions. Teams conduct their own investigations, consulting legal counsel and conducting background work.

Factors teams consider include:

• Status of legal investigations and likely league discipline.
• Credibility and specificity of allegations.
• Player’s public statements and past conduct record.
• Sponsor and fan base reactions; some franchises are more intolerant of reputational risk than others.
• Competitive urgency: a team with a playoff window may be more willing to accept reputational concerns if the player’s on-field impact is decisive.

Examples in recent NFL history show different outcomes when teams faced similar choices. Some franchises have signed players with off-field baggage when they judged performance upside to be significant and legal risk manageable. Others have declined to associate with players until investigations concluded. That divergence reflects the decentralized nature of roster decision-making in the league.

For Tucker, the combination of a poor recent season and pending allegations magnifies the risk. Teams that prioritize due diligence may require more than a single workout to be satisfied. Others, motivated by immediate roster needs or a belief in rehabilitation, might act more quickly.

The Market for Veteran Kickers: Supply, Demand and Economics

The kicking market is both narrow and volatile. Only 32 starting kicker jobs exist in the league at any given time, and the supply of experienced, proven specialists is limited. When a top-tier kicker becomes available, teams in need often pursue them aggressively, but each team’s appetite differs.

Economic considerations include:

• Salary cap impact: kickers occupy a relatively small portion of the cap. The cost differential between a veteran like Tucker and a younger journeyman is generally manageable.
• Opportunity cost: a roster spot taken by a veteran kicker could instead go to a developmental player at another position or to special-teams depth.
• Replacement availability: if a team believes the open-market alternatives are inferior, it is more likely to sign a veteran.

Historically, kickers who find late-career revival tend to do so in systems that provide consistent snaps and holders, and a coaching staff committed to stabilizing the special-teams operation. Teams that cycle through kickers without addressing snap- and hold-side issues rarely unlock consistent production.

The market also responds to perception. If Tucker shows sharp measurements in a controlled setting—e.g., consistent deep kickoffs with high hang time, accurate field-goal drill performance—other teams might increase interest, generating a bidding dynamic. Conversely, visible misses during a workout can cool interest quickly.

Potential Outcomes for the Jets and Tucker

Several plausible scenarios could follow the workout, each with different implications for the Jets and for Tucker’s career:

1. Short-term competition and signing
   • The Jets could sign Tucker to compete for the starting job. If he demonstrates superior accuracy and range in practice and preseason action, he would likely claim the spot. This outcome would end the immediate competition and could stabilize the Jets’ special teams. Expect a short-term contract with little guaranteed money, enabling the team to cut bait if performance and optics deteriorate.
2. Practice-squad depth
   • The Jets might prefer to sign Tucker to the practice squad, allowing him to rebuild timing with holders and snappers without consuming a 53-man spot. This approach reduces the immediate roster risk while preserving the option to promote him later. It is a lower-cost, lower-risk strategy that many teams employ with veterans who have talent but need game conditioning.
3. No signing
   • The Jets could decide that their current options suffice or that the combined concerns—recent performance and off-field allegations—outweigh the on-field benefits. This outcome would leave Tucker searching for opportunities elsewhere and keep the Jets with their incumbent specialists.
4. Delayed signing after further workouts
   • Tucker could continue working out for multiple teams. If he posts strong numbers and the legal situation clarifies without punitive league action, an NFL team could sign him midseason if an injury or performance issue emerges with an incumbent kicker.

Each path carries trade-offs. A quick signing could provide the Jets immediate improvement if Tucker is back to form; it could also invite public scrutiny or fail if his form is not repaired. A practice-squad route buys time but leaves the team exposed if a starting kicker struggles early. No signing reflects either confidence in current options or a decision to avoid the potential complications inherent in re-signing a high-profile veteran with recent issues.

How a Tucker Return Could Change Game Scripts

A kicker’s presence affects coaching decisions on fourth downs and end-of-half play-calls. With a reliable long-range kicker, offensive coordinators are more willing to attempt longer field goals instead of fourth-down conversions. Conversely, uncertainty at kicker increases the propensity to go for it on fourth-and-short, particularly in hostile weather or venues with wind that complicates long kicks.

If Tucker returns to near-peak form:

• The Jets’ coaching staff may opt for more conservative fourth-down decisions in the opponent’s territory, converting attempted fourth-downs into field-goal tries.
• Special teams could flip their kickoff strategies. Deeper kickoffs and higher touchback rates reduce opponents’ average starting field position, a tangible measurement of special-teams value.
• Opposing defenses must account for lower variance late in games, changing how they manage end-of-half scenarios.

If Tucker remains inconsistent:

• Coaches will continue to hedge, possibly decreasing field-goal attempts beyond mid-range and increasing fourth-down aggressiveness.
• The team experiences continued special-teams uncertainty that can cost close games.

Game theory around kicking is subtle but real; a trusted kicker can add two to three points of expected value per game in certain situations, and over a season that value compounds.

Player Development and Mechanics Work: Can Tucker Rebuild?

Rehabilitation of specialized mechanics is an empirical question. Kickers often can regain form through disciplined work with a specialized kicking coach, dedicated repetitions on plant foot mechanics, hip mobility programs, and routines that rebuild confidence.

Practical steps for rebuilding include:

• High-repetition practice sessions focusing on plant-and-contact drills.
• Film analysis to detect micro-changes in approach steps or torso angle.
• Strength and conditioning targeted at the posterior chain—hamstrings and glutes—to preserve kicking power.
• Pressure simulation drills to rebuild psychological resilience.

Examples exist of kickers who overcame slumps through targeted intervention. The specific causes of Tucker’s 2024 struggles would determine the necessary remedy. If misses were primarily mental, routine and situational repetition can restore confidence. If mechanical breakdowns exist, muscle-retraining exercises and a retooled approach may be required.

Age-related decline is not inevitable for specialists. Kickers in their mid-to-late 30s have posted high-output seasons. What matters more is repetition, health, and a secure, repeatable operation.

Public and Locker-Room Dynamics

Signing or not signing Tucker sends messages internally and externally. Internally, it signals to players how the front office prioritizes winning and navigates reputational risk. Externally, it affects fan perception and sponsor relationships.

Locker-room dynamics can be influenced by the arrival of a veteran with a storied résumé:

• Young kickers may benefit from mentorship if the veteran is positioned as a teacher.
• Competition can elevate day-to-day standards, which some coaching staffs explicitly cultivate.
• A high-profile arrival can create distraction if off-field concerns dominate locker-room discussion.

Teams successful in integrating veterans balance clear expectations with support structures: they define professional standards and ensure the new player’s arrival aligns with team culture. The decision to bring a veteran into a close-knit locker room is therefore both technical and cultural.

League-Wide Implications: If Tucker Returns, How Will Other Teams React?

A Tucker signing—even a single-team addition—shifts demand for veteran kickers. Teams experiencing kicking instability will observe the method and timing of any signing closely. If Tucker proves reliable again, his entry into the market could encourage teams to be more patient with other veterans or push them to re-evaluate their own options.

A return would also spotlight how the league balances on-field talent with off-field conduct. The NFL and individual franchises will face scrutiny regarding where they draw lines for personnel decisions. That scrutiny could shape future signings and how quickly teams act on contentious cases.

Finally, a successful return might nudge younger kickers’ development paths. Seeing an elite veteran re-establish himself later in his career could prompt teams to invest more in individualized coaching for their kickers rather than cycling through multiple short-term options.

Scouting Takeaways: What Coaches and Special-Teams Coordinators Look For Now

Coaches evaluating Tucker or any veteran kicker prioritize these elements:

• Consistency in approach and plant mechanics across repeated kicks.
• Peak leg velocity and hang time on kickoffs.
• Accuracy in varied wind and turf scenarios during practice bouts.
• Situational composure: the ability to execute in two-minute drills and high-pressure kicks during practice.
• Quick adaptation to a team’s snap/hold rhythm.

Special-teams coordinators weigh these measurements alongside intangibles—leadership, work ethic, and the player’s ability to integrate with the snapper and holder. A kicker who looks mechanically polished but cannot sync quickly with the long snapper will still be a risky signing.

For a veteran with a storied background, the final decision often distills to: does the player demonstrably reduce variance in expected scoring outcomes enough to justify the roster move and any attendant reputational considerations?

Scenarios for the Remainder of the Season: What to Watch For

If Tucker signs with the Jets—or another team—the calendar provides test points that will reveal his trajectory:

• Preseason game reps: success or failure in live action will be a primary barometer. Coaches often prefer to see game-like reps before making a roster commitment.
• Early-season game performance: teams frequently give new kickers a small sample size before making a change, especially if the veteran is a short-term acquisition.
• Situational kicks (late-game, long-distance): these high-leverage moments provide concise data on a kicker’s ability to perform under stress.
• Statistical trend across weeks: a return to a high field-goal percentage over a multi-week stretch will likely lead to greater trust and secure the roster spot.

For the Jets specifically, early- to mid-season games will test whether a signing stabilizes special teams enough to influence close-game outcomes. If Tucker is not signed and incumbents falter, attention will return to the veteran market as injuries and performance issues create midseason openings.

Fan and Media Response: Managing Expectations

Tucker’s name elicits strong reactions. Fans and media will parse every miss and make every long field goal a referendum on the signing decision. Teams must manage expectations by clearly communicating evaluation reasoning to the public when they choose to sign a high-profile veteran.

Transparent messaging about performance-based contract terms, or about giving a player a chance to rejoin the league while monitoring legal processes, helps frame the narrative. Absent clear communication, rumors and speculation can dominate coverage—an outcome teams often seek to avoid.

Lessons for Teams Facing Similar Choices

Franchises considering veterans with recent declines and off-field questions should follow a structured approach:

• Rigorous medical and mechanical evaluation.
• Thorough legal review and consultation with the league office as appropriate.
• Communications strategy prepared to handle public and sponsor reaction.
• Clear contract terms that limit long-term exposure.
• A plan to integrate the player into the team culture that includes mentorship and accountability.

Ad hoc decisions driven by name recognition rather than careful assessment carry higher risk. Conversely, teams that construct disciplined, evidence-based evaluation pathways can seize low-cost upside opportunities while managing downside.

What This Means for Tucker’s Legacy

Justin Tucker’s prior achievements provide a high watermark: exceptional range, clutch kicks, and years of reliable production. A return to effective kicking would add a late-career chapter to that legacy and reduce the weight of a single down year. Conversely, if he is unable to regain his previous form, that 2024 season may cast a shadow over the end of an otherwise remarkable career.

Legacy in sports is rarely binary. It is cumulative and contextual. How Tucker chooses to address technique, conditioning, and off-field matters—in partnership with teams and coaches—will shape the narrative that follows. The Jets’ workout is one more data point in that evolving story.

FAQ

Q: Did the Jets sign Justin Tucker after the workout? A: As of the immediate follow-up to the Jets’ Aug. 2 workout, the team did not sign Tucker. The session included other veteran kickers—Michael Badgley and Josh Karty—and none were added to the roster immediately.

Q: Why would the Jets consider signing Tucker despite a poor 2024 season and off-field allegations? A: NFL teams weigh on-field upside against recent performance and off-field risk. Tucker’s career history of accuracy and elite range makes him an attractive option if coaching staff believes he can return to form. Roster need—given uncertainty around Blake Grupe and Jason Sanders—also drives interest. Teams conduct evaluations that include medical checks, film study and legal review before committing.

Q: How likely is it that Tucker can return to his pre-2024 level? A: Predicting outcomes for specialists is inherently uncertain. Rehabilitation of mechanics and rebuilding confidence are possible with targeted coaching and repetition. Age is a factor but not determinative; kickers in their mid-to-late 30s have posted high-performance seasons. The key indicators are repeatable mechanics in practice, kickoffs showing preserved leg strength, and consistency in simulated pressure situations.

Q: What are the roster implications if the Jets sign Tucker? A: If signed to the active roster, the team would have to release or reassign an existing player to make room. The more conservative route is a practice-squad signing, which preserves roster flexibility and reduces immediate risk. Contract terms for late-signing veterans typically minimize guaranteed money.

Q: How do teams handle off-field allegations during personnel decisions? A: Teams consult legal counsel, perform background checks, and coordinate with the NFL regarding pending investigations. They also assess reputational and sponsor implications. Decisions vary by franchise, balancing competitive objectives with organizational values and public reaction.

Q: Are kicker workouts common in the NFL? A: Yes. Teams routinely audition multiple kickers during training camp and even in-season when needs arise. These workouts allow special-teams coaches to measure consistency, range and adaptability with their long snappers and holders.

Q: If Tucker isn't signed by the Jets, will other teams pursue him? A: It depends on performance in subsequent workouts and the status of any investigations. The market for veteran kickers is fluid; injuries and performance declines occur across the league, creating opportunities at various points in the season. A strong showing in a controlled workout can generate interest quickly.

Q: How important is kickoff ability versus field-goal accuracy? A: Both matter, but their relative importance depends on team strategy. Kickoff distance and hang time influence opponent starting field position, which has defensive value. Field-goal accuracy directly translates into scoring output. Coaches evaluate both elements and may value a kicker who produces on both fronts higher than one who excels only in one area.

Q: Could a return to the NFL rehabilitate Tucker’s public image? A: On-field success can shift public perception, but off-field matters are judged on more than performance. Legal outcomes, league findings and the manner in which the player addresses allegations and accountability will all influence how public opinion evolves.

Q: What should Jets fans expect in the coming weeks? A: Expect continued evaluation of kicking options during preseason practices and potentially preseason game reps. The coaching staff will weigh performance against roster flexibility and the legal context surrounding Tucker. If the team remains uncertain, fans may see a short-term solution or a practice-squad approach while the staff monitors progress and legal developments.

This situation remains dynamic. The Jets’ tryout of Justin Tucker underscores how thin the margin is between elite performance and uncertainty at a position where a single kick can determine the outcome of an entire season.