Jets training camp: Should lack of experience on special teams be a concern?
The New York Jets made changes on special teams last week. General manager Darren Mougey signed kicker Harrison Mevis and released Anders Carlson. As currently constructed, the Jets are slated to enter training camp without a kicker or punter that has played in a regular season game.
That's certainly a risk.
Mevis most recently played for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions. He was outstanding in the developmental league, connecting on 95.2 percent of his field-goal attempts during the 2025 season (20 of 21). Mevis showcased terrific leg strength by connecting on a 56-yard attempt and was also accurate enough to convert every kick within 50 yards. He signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent last year, but was waived during final cuts.
Mevis will now compete at training camp with Caden Davis. The Jets signed Davis as an undrafted free agent in April. The former Texas A&M and Ole Miss placekicker was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (best kicker in college football) and was invited to the 2025 Senior Bowl.
The situation is similar at punter. It's ironic considering the Jets began last season with two of the oldest (Thomas Morstead and Greg Zuerlein) kickers and punters in the league.
Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger are battling for the punting job. McNamara signed with the Jets in March after competing for the Cincinnati Bengals' gig in training camp last year. Kroeger is a rookie undrafted free agent who punted at South Carolina for five seasons (2020-24).
Furthermore, the Jets have an inexperienced special teams coach. Aaron Glenn appointed 35-year-old former NFL safety Chris Banjo. Coach Banjo enters the spotlight after spending just two seasons (2023-24) as an assistant special teams coach with the Denver Broncos. He'll be tasked with preparing inexperienced kickers and punters this offseason.
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