Greg Zuerlein makes poor Jets first impression in loss

Greg Zuerlein got here to the Jets with a robust résumé and a nickname.

Jets followers weren’t calling him, “Greg the Leg,” on Sunday, although. Not after he missed a 45-yard area purpose and an additional level within the Jets’ ugly 24-9 loss to the Ravens at MetLife Stadium.

They had been booing the brand new kicker, who made a poor first impression.

“We’re lacking kicks, we’re lacking additional factors. We’re not going to win a soccer recreation [like that],” coach Robert Saleh stated. “It’s unimaginable to win towards a veteran workforce once you transfer the ball the way in which we [did] and also you come up empty-handed, time and time once more like we did as we speak.”

Zuerlein’s miss from 45 yards out early within the second quarter got here at a nasty time, with the Jets hanging with the favored Ravens and trailing by simply three factors. He did hit his different field-goal makes an attempt from 45 yards late within the opening half.

Mockingly, the kicker he changed, Eddy Pineiro, made his lone area purpose for the Panthers on Sunday, which gave them the lead late of their loss to the Browns. Pineiro was an ideal 8-for-8 with the Jets final yr after changing Matt Ammendola. 

“We opened it up for competitors [in the summer] and ‘Z’ beat him truthful and sq.,” Saleh stated.

The 34-year-old Zuerlein was a first-team All-Professional and Professional Bowl choice in 2017 and despatched the Rams to Tremendous Bowl LIII by drilling a walk-off 57-yard area purpose in additional time to cap a 4-for-4 efficiency within the NFC Championship recreation. He was reduce by the Cowboys after final season for wage cap causes.

Since dropping Professional Bowler Jason Myers to the Seahawks in 2019, the Jets have been trying to find a solution at kicker. Zuerlein appeared like an answer to that drawback. However his debut didn’t go as deliberate.