New kicker, same issue
Replacing Catanzaro, Bertolet misses PAT
ATLANTA — The Jets’ kicking situation did not get much clarity Thursday night.
Taylor Bertolet, who signed Sunday after Chandler Catanzaro retired from the NFL, went 1-for-3 on extra points, but also made a 49-yard field goal in the Jets’ 22-10 win over the Falcons.
Catanzaro had missed two extra points in the Jets’ first preseason game against the Giants.
“I’ve just got to do a better job,” Bertolet said. “My job is putting it through the uprights.”
The Jets may need to bring in another kicker to at least compete with Bertolet for the next two weeks. General manager Joe Douglas surely will be eyeing the waiver wire for any kickers who shake free.
“Right now this is where we’re at,” head coach Adam Gase said. “This is who we’re going with.”
Bertolet spent training camp with the Jets last year and kicked well, but lost out to Jason Myers, who had a Pro Bowl season. But the Jets chose not to re-sign Myers in free agency. He received $5.5 million in guaranteed money from the Seahawks and the Jets did not want to spend that much on a kicker.
“I’m trying to be the kicker,” Bertolet said. “I’m not just trying to be a guy competing for the job. There’s pressure just being a kicker. It’s part of your job handling this. It’s part of your job when you miss. You’ve got to show resiliency and bounce back.”
RB Le’Veon Bell did not play again and it sounds like there is a chance he will not play at all in the preseason.
“I just liked his week of practice,” Gase said. “He got a ton of reps this week. We’ll see how next week goes. He’s played a lot of football. I like where he’s at right now. I love how he’s working. If I feel like there’s a need to play him next week, we will. If he has a good week of practice and we feel like it’s not worth it for us to get him out there, then we won’t.”
The Jets’ next game is Aug. 24 against the Saints.
RT Brandon Shell did not play because of a knee injury he sustained during pregame warm-ups. … LB Avery Williamson left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. Falcons CB Tevaughn Campbell ran into Williamson’s knee in the end zone. It was a little puzzling why Williamson remained in the game for so long. Most of the starting defense exited the game after the first quarter. … LB Jamey Mosley injured his knee in the fourth quarter. … Matt Darr was the starting punter, which was a surprise. Lachlan Edwards has been the Jets’ punter for the last three seasons, but has some competition from Darr.
The following players did not suit up for the game: DL Leonard Williams, C Ryan Kalil, CB Trumaine Johnson, G Brian Winters, G Kelechi Osemele, S Marcus Maye, CB Kyron Brown, LB Harvey Langi, LB Blake Cashman, WR Jeff Smith, DL Justin Alexandre and OL Brent Qvale.