FLORHAM PARK, N.J. >> The New York Jets’ kicking carousel is spinning again.
Anders Carlson could be the team’s fourth kicker in as many games when the Jets host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
That’s because Spencer Shrader, who made both of his field-goal attempts last week in his New York debut, was signed by Kansas City off the Jets’ practice squad Thursday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The Chiefs needed a kicker after Harrison Butker was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had yet to announce the roster moves.
Carlson, who was signed to the Jets’ practice squad last week, is likely to follow Greg Zuerlein, Riley Patterson and Shrader in New York’s kicker shuffle.
Patterson, who’s a free agent, joined Austin Seibert, Ryan Santoso and Aldrick Rosas on the 2021 Detroit Lions, the most recent team to use different kickers in four straight games.
The only time the Jets have used four kickers at any point in a season was 1979, when they had Pat Leahy, Rich Szaro, Toni Linhart and Dave Jacobs.
Zuerlein was New York’s kicker to start the season, but he was placed on IR with an injured non-kicking left leg on Oct. 30. Shrader and Riley Patterson were signed to the practice squad as replacements.
Patterson was signed to the active roster a few hours before the game against Houston on Oct. 31 and made both of his extra point attempts. But the Jets released him and promoted Shrader for the game at Arizona.
“I thought he handled it really well,” Jets special teams Brant Boyer said of Shrader less than 30 minutes before reports circulated that the Chiefs signed him. “Kid’s got a lot of talent. I think he handled it well doing what we asked him to do and syncing up with those guys and doing a good job in the game, for sure.”
ESPN reported the Jets offered Shrader a spot on their 53-man active roster, but the kicker opted to go to the undefeated Chiefs.
Carlson was with San Francisco earlier this season and was 5 of 5 on field goal attempts and 3 of 4 on extra points in two games in place of the injured Jake Moody and Matthew Wright. He was a sixth-round pick of Green Bay last year out of Auburn and was 27 of 33 on field goals and 34 of 39 on extra points in 17 games as a rookie with the Packers.
Bears place safety Jaquan Brisker on IR>> The Chicago Bears placed safety Jaquan Brisker on injured reserve on Thursday because of a concussion.
It’s the third known concussion in as many years for Brisker, who reported symptoms the day after Chicago’s win over Carolina in Week 5. He has missed the past four games and will miss at least four more after being placed on IR. The 25-year-old Brisker has 40 tackles, an interception, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in his third season since Chicago drafted him in 2022.
NFL scouting combine is staying in Indianapolis through 2026>> The NFL scouting combine is staying in Indianapolis through 2026.
The state’s tourism office announced the deal on Thursday, extending a partnership with the league that began in 1987 and was previously set to run through 2025.
“Indianapolis and the NFL Combine have a proud history together, so we’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Visit Indy, the Indianapolis Colts, and the local community for this 2026 event,” said Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president, club business, international, and league events at the NFL. “Our partners in Indy have successfully hosted the football evaluation process for decades, and recently, we’ve collectively worked to grow and evolve the in-person fan experience, bringing tens of thousands of fans closer to the league’s future stars.”
The event generated a record-setting $9.26 million in economic impact in 2024 while attracting more than 27,200 fans who attended the family-friendly Combine Experience.
“Indianapolis is uniquely designed and built to host an event as complex as the NFL Combine,” said Pete Ward, chief operating officer with the Indianapolis Colts. “Efficiently moving prospects, team owners, coaching staff, medical personnel, and national media is seamlessly done in Indy, and the Colts are proud to be part of the team keeping the event in our city.”
The 2025 combine runs from Feb. 27 to March 2.