Jets kicker Chandler Catanzaro retires; Taylor Bertolet signed
Jets' Chandler Catanzaro attempts an extra point with holder Lachlan Edwards during a preseason game against the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Thursday.. Credit: Daniel De Mato
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Jets have addressed their kicker issue — for now.
They signed Taylor Bertolet on Sunday after Chandler Catanzaro told coach Adam Gase on Friday that he was retiring.
Catanzaro, 28, in his second tour of duty with the Jets, had been struggling. He missed numerous field-goal tries during practice and failed on two of his three extra-point attempts in Thursday’s preseason game.
“He came in Friday morning and told me he was done,” Gase said. “He could have easily rode it out and seen what happened. I appreciate him doing it at that time and being straight with it.”
The Jets had a few kickers come in Saturday for a workout, including Bertolet and former Viking Blair Walsh. The Jets reportedly were among the teams who spoke to the Ravens about Kaare Vedvik, but he was traded to Minnesota on Sunday.
Bertolet was in Jets camp last summer, but Jason Myers beat him out. Myers made the Pro Bowl, but the Jets let him walk. He signed a three-year, $15 million deal with Seattle, with $5.5 million guaranteed.
Bertolet last played for the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football. He went 4-for-6 on field-goal attempts in Sunday’s practice.
“This is where we’re at right now,” Gase said. “We’ll see how everything goes. What I saw today, I was pretty impressed. It sounded good coming off his foot.”
