The Jets have their fourth new kicker this season in Sam Ficken, who won a competition during a tryout earlier this week. He replaces Kaare Vedvik, who missed a 45-yard kick and an extra point in a 17-16 opening day loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
After letting Pro Bowler Jason Meyers walk after 2018, the Jets saw Chandler Catanzaro retire in the preseason, and then Taylor Bertolet and Vedvik not cut it. A less than ideal situation for Jets head coach Adam Gase, who oversaw the selection of Ficken this week.
Despite all that, Gase is taking an optimistic approach to the situation when asked about it on Wednesday.
"Got a new one," Gase said. "Why not? Let's go, baby."
"I'm thinking positive," he added.
"Got a new one...let's go baby!"
- Jets Videos (@snyjets) September 11, 2019
Adam Gase is still optimistic about his kicker situation pic.twitter.com/cNFg6ft16j
Ficken's minimal NFL numbers aren't exactly a positive sign, though. He's just 3-for-6 on field goals during a brief stint with the Rams and was 14-for-15 on extra points in his career. He made his only field goal try with the Packers this preseason, before losing that battle to incumbent Mason Crosby.
"I'm going into it with confidence that he'll do a good job and he's the right guy for us," Gase said. "I got to give him a shot. I got to give him a shot to be able to go out there and execute."
In regard to Vedvik, Gase said things went very unexpectedly.
"He had a good week of practice," Gase said. "When we left practice the last day he kicked, I was feeling good. His stroke looked good. Everything looked good. I went out pregame… Not so good. I did not feel so good."
Just for good measure, Ficken will make his likely Jets debut under the national spotlight on Monday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns, too.
No pressure.