The Jets cut off Sam Ficken kicker on Saturday in a somewhat surprising move.
Ficken, in nine games this season for the Jets, made 13 of his 15 pitches and made 12 of 15 with extra points. He had two blocked shots last week against the Browns, a field goal attempt and a point attempt after. Ficken lost five games to a groin injury this year, after shooting in 15 games for the Jets in 2019.
Chase McLaughlin will be the kicker in New England at the end of the season on Sunday. The Jets removed McLaughlin from the Jaguars’ exemptions last month, but he did not appear in a game for them. McLaughlin appeared in three games for Jacksonville this season and scored 4-5 on field goals and 3-4 on extra points. He will be the third kicker the Jets will use this season.
The Jets had two blocked shots last week, something that infuriated special team coordinator Brant Boyer. Ficken had an extra point attempt and a blocked goal attempt.
“This is a classified program for children, so I will try to moderate what I say here,” said Boyer. “It was a collaboration of things. We gave up a lot of pressure inside, a little low kick, and then we had to submit a guy right at the last second to put him there in the second. I think we can certainly do a better job. “
All of this is stopping internal pressure. They didn’t get that much of a push, and that’s it, not enough to block a kick. So, we definitely have to fix this before this week. Obviously, this can never happen, and it has happened twice in a game. So, needless to say, I’m not happy with that, for sure. “
The Jets activated point guard Greg Van Roten outside the reserve on Saturday. He should start on the right guard, where he started in the first 12 games of the Jets season. He suffered an injury to the peat toe that put him in reserve on December 12. Cornerback Bless Austin was dropped after losing this week to a disease unrelated to COVID-19. Lamar Jackson is expected to start at his place.
The Jets also hired DL Tanzel Smart and LB Sharif Finch to actively train the training team. They elevated LBs Noah Dawkins and Brady Sheldon from the training team.
Jets rookie WR Denzel Mims had a quiet game last week against the Browns, held without a footprint for the first time in a game this season.
Mims had a debut year of ups and downs that was hampered by injuries to the hamstring in the beginning. He showed the skill that made the Jets beat him in Baylor’s second round, but he hasn’t played a monster yet. Could this happen on Sunday against the Patriots?
The Jets said there were reasons why he was detained without being caught by Cleveland.
“I think there are some things that – coverage determines where the ball goes,” said offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. “Obviously, the guys inside had a bigger game with [Jamison] Crowd, [Braxton] Screams and [TE Chris] Herndon. I think we had eight targets for the outside guys and we were from 0 to 8. There were some balls played, some go routes that were launched. Sometimes a game turns like this and when the ball goes out to your guys, they have to make contested moves. And when you don’t make those moves, sometimes your line of statistics is not so good. “
Mims has 22 receptions for 342 yards in eight games this season. He’s still looking for his first touchdown.