The Jets are refreshing their roster, and it seems even punters aren’t safe from the youth movement.
This past Tuesday, they let go of 39-year-old Thomas Morstead, opting instead for undrafted rookie Kai Kroeger. Kroeger had previously tried out for the Eagles and Texans over the last couple of weekends but hadn’t been picked up until now.
“It was a great experience,” Morstead explained in an Instagram video. He shared that, after receiving a call from the Jets during training, he left the training fields feeling mixed emotions. “I was disappointed that we weren’t moving forward, but that’s how this business goes,” he added.
Morstead had been a reliable punter and had garnered a strong fan following during his two seasons with the team, consistently placing adversaries deep within their own territory to aid his defense.
New head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Moogie are clearly rethinking team dynamics and prioritizing younger talent. To that end, Chris Banjo has stepped in as the new special teams coordinator, replacing Blunt Boyer.
Kroeger enjoyed a solid college career, averaging 44.6 yards per punt at South Carolina, where he ranked second among his peers leading up to the draft.
He had signed with the Jets in March but hasn’t seen game action yet. After going undrafted last year, he was released by the Bengals.
Interestingly, Morstead had a standout 2023 season, leading the league in both punt attempts and total yards, and landing more than a third of his kicks inside the 20-yard line.
This marks the conclusion of Morstead’s second stint with the Jets. His first run was back in 2021, when he was essentially the only option for a team taking a chance on him due to his age. Now, after four years, he was back with the Jets, providing a respected voice in the veteran locker room.
“I just want to express my gratitude to all the fans I’ve interacted with over the years,” Morstead said. “It was truly special. I’m thankful to everyone who was part of this journey.”
