Former Packers kicker Sam Ficken to sign with New York Jets, per report

Sam Ficken is reportedly signing with the New York Jets.

Sam Ficken gave Mason Crosby serious competition for the kicking job throughout the summer, so it was only a matter of time before he signed with another NFL team.

Ficken, who impressed for the Green Bay Packers during training camp and in the preseason, is expected to sign with the New York Jets, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Ficken has limited regular season experience in the NFL, but did play well in the summer.

Both Ficken and Crosby didn’t have too many field goal opportunities in the preseason, but Ficken didn’t miss a single kick. Crosby missed one. In preseason, Ficken converted his only field goal attempt from 41 yards, and made all five extra-point attempts. It backed up his consistent performances in training camp.

As a result, the positional battle went down to the wire, with both kickers playing into the Packers’ final preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs last month.

The Packers decided to stick with the more experienced Crosby ahead of Ficken, which was the right choice. Despite that, Ficken played more than well enough to land an opportunity with another team.

That chance could’ve easily come with the Chicago Bears in Week 1, which would’ve meant he’d have played against the Packers in the season opener. The Bears instead decided to go with Eddy Pineiro, who currently has their only points of the 2019 season.

The Jets, too, have been looking for their answer at kicker. And now Ficken will come in with the opportunity to secure the job permanently.

Kaare Vedvik missed both kicks for the Jets in their season opener against the Buffalo Bills. He missed an extra-point attempt and a 45-yard field goal. The Jets held a 16-0 lead at one point but eventually lost 17-16. Those missed kicks proved costly.

Hopefully, Ficken will continue his good performances from the summer and have a successful season with the Jets.