The Jets have signed kickers Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader to the practice squad and placed K Greg Zuerlein on Injured Reserve. The team also signed LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball to the active roster and released S Jaylen Key from the P-squad.
Patterson (6-0, 190), signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021 out of Memphis. He spent the 2024 training camp with the Commanders and was released in August. In the preseason, he connected on 2-of-3 field-goal attempts and 1 extra point. In 5 seasons in the NFL, Patterson, who's had stints with five teams, has made 88% of his field-goal attempts (59 of 67) and 96% of extra points (93 -of -97). From 40-plus, he is 19 -of -25, and 40 -of -42 from inside the 40.
Shrader (6-2, 200), signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame and South Florida following the 2024 NFL Draft, was elevated for a Week 1 contest against the Texans following an injury to Matt Gay. He made all 3 of his extra-point attempts and was released on Oct. 2. Shrader re-signed a week later before being released again on Oct. 16. He kicked for USF for 4 seasons, making 28-of-40 FG attempts and all but 1 of 94 extra points. He transferred to Notre Dame in 2024 and connected on 15-of-22 attempts, including a career-long 54-yarder, and was 61-of-62 on extra points.
The Jets will likely elevate Patterson or Shrader on Thursday ahead of the team's Week 9 game against the visiting Houston Texans (6-2).
Zuerlein (6-0, 187) has kicked in all 8 games and made 60% of his field-goal attempts (9 of 15) and 93% of extra points (13 -of- 14). Last season, he appeared in 16 games, making 92.1% of his field-goal attempts (35 of 38) and converted on 5-of-6 kicks from 50-plus yards. He set a franchise record with 26 consecutive field goals made, tied for the league lead with 4 game-tying/game-winning FGs and was fourth in touchback percentage (90.6%). Zuerlein, in his 13th season out of Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri Western State, also has played for the Rams, who drafted him in the 6sixth round in 2012, and the Cowboys. He has connected on 82.2% of the field-goal attempts in his career with a career-long of 61 yards.
McCray-Ball (6-0, 214) was elevated for 3 games this season from Weeks 3-5 and has taken 53 snaps on special teams. The former Indiana Hoosier, who was added to the practice squad in August, initially signed with the Jets P-squad in August 2023 before being added to the active roster last January. McCrary-Ball appeared in 2 games for the Green & White in '23 and took 19 special teams snaps. He began his career with the 49ers, signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022, and spent two training camps with San Francisco before joining the Jets midway through the '23 season.
Key (6-0, 208), the last pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, totaled 11 tackles in 3 preseason games before he was released and signed to the Green & White's practice squad following training camp. He was released from the P-squad on Sept. 24 and re-signed on Oct. 9. He spent 5 seasons at Alabama-Birmingham before transferring to Alabama for the 2023 season.