Jets release P Thomas Morstead

Morstead spent the past two seasons as the Jets’ punter. The team has since announced the release, along with the signing of Kai Kroeger.

Austin McNamara, a 2024 UDFA, signed with the Jets in March. With McNamara not playing in a regular-season game last year, that move did not generate much attention. But the Jets did make sweeping changes since re-signing Morstead in 2024, replacing the Joe Douglas–Robert Saleh regime with the Darren Mougey–Aaron Glenn partnership. The new power brokers appear to be planning a competition between two far less experienced punters.

Not part of the Jets’ initial 15-man UDFA class, Kroeger joined the team Tuesday after a five-year career as South Carolina’s punter. Kroeger punted in 61 games for the Gamecocks from 2020-24; his best gross average came last season (47.8). McNamara served as Texas Tech’s punter from 2019-23, joining Kroeger in taking advantage of the COVID-19 year. McNamara averaged a career-best 48.2 yards per boot in 2021.

This is the third time the Jets have released Morstead. They cut him midway through the 2021 season and then did make a procedural release upon setting its roster in 2023. Morstead re-signed with the Jets shortly after they sorted out other roster issues and punted in every game for the team over the past two seasons. The former Saints Super Bowl-winning specialist averaged 48.8 yards per punt in 2023 — his most since a Pro Bowl 2012 season (mostly spent indoors) — and posted a 47.2-yard number last year.

The Jets, who had re-signed Morstead on a two-year deal worth $5.1MM in 2024, will save $2.55MM in cap space by cutting him this time. He was due to make a $2.13MM base salary. McNamara and Kroeger will be on league-minimum numbers. With neither having played in an NFL game, the Jets going with another free agent could also transpire. Either way, Morstead is a free agent again at 39. It will be interesting to see if he can secure an opportunity to play a 17th NFL season.