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The Jets’ decision to go with Jason Sanders over Blake Grupe as their kicker this week makes perfect sense.
Sanders had been working with the battery of long-snapper Thomas Hennessy and holder Austin McNamara since the veteran minicamp and through training camp, after being claimed on waivers on June 3.
That is why they made this decision.
Earlier this week, JC asked Grupe about getting comfortable with a new long-snapper and holder on a new team, and he raved about Hennessy and McNamara, but added, “It does take time, it does take reps.”
Who can argue with this?
Why wouldn’t you go with the guy who is more comfortable with the battery in Week 1 as long as the kicking was pretty even in practice this week? Obviously, if Sanders struggled in practice this week and Grupe was performing well, they would not have made this decision. But if it was close, go with the guy who is more comfortable with the other two guys who are keys to the operation.
Look, Sanders has connected on 84 percent of his kicks in his career, so he’s been a very good kicker in the league. He knows what he’s doing out there. The only question is whether the serious hip injury, suffered in the summer of 2025 with Miami, that knocked him out all of last season, has thrown him off a little . . .
It’s no secret the Jets want to run the ball a lot this year. It’s a huge part of their plan entering this season. Historically, QB Geno Smith has done some of his best work in the NFL with a strong running game, allowing him to sell play-action passes effectively. With a good offensive line and a talented running back room led by tailback Breece Hall, the Jets should have some success running the ball this season.
And in Week 1, something else that should help them run the ball well is the Titans being without their leading tackler, linebacker Cedric Gray, who is out this game with a concussion, actually not suffered in football. He was recently involved in an accident driving a UTV (Utility Task Vehicle), a motorized off-road vehicle.
Gray led the Titans in tackles last year with 164 and was one of the highest-rated NFL run defenders last year according to the analytical community.
This is a big loss, and don’t be surprised if it helps the Jets’ run game, at times, over the course of Sunday’s contest . . .
The Jets will be without rookie nickelback D’Angelo Ponds on Sunday with a calf strain.
That ailment really lingers. It’s not a fast-healing muscle for whatever reason. The Jets waived linebacker Mykal Walker with an injury settlement on September 3 due to a calf injury. It looked like he was going to make the team, but then this happened late in camp, and they sent him packing. You could argue Walker might be a little better in pass coverage than Jamien Sherwood and Kiko Mauigoa. Linebacker coverage might be one of the biggest question marks for Gang Green entering the 2026 season.
There is no reason to rush Ponds, especially with having Jarvis Brownlee (pictured above) on the team. Not only is Brownlee a solid nickelback, but let’s not forget he has a good feel for Titans QB Cam Ward after practicing against him last spring and summer last year as a member of the Titans, and then early last season before being traded to the Jets in late September. Brownlee might have the best feel for Ward of anybody in the Jets secondary.
Also, if the Jets need a backup nickel back on Sunday, they can promote Jordan Clark from their practice squad. Clark improved a lot this summer.
September 11, 2026
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