Jets' Special Teams Continue to Stack NFL Honors
The New York Jets are building a collection of AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards.
Punter Thomas Morstead earned the league-issued honor following his Week 8 performance against the New York Giants, becoming the third Jet to do so this season.
Morstead, the first punter this season to claim the AFC accolade, joins Jets' teammates Xavier Gipson and Greg Zuerlein as 2023 recipients. Gipson earned the spotlight after his game-winning 65-yard punt return touchdown in overtime against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Zuerlein used a 17-point effort against the Denver Broncos to take the honor after the Jets' Week 5 road victory.
The 37-year-old Morstead became only the third punter ever to win the Special Teams Player of the Week award for three different organizations (Jets, Saints, Falcons). Matt Turk and former Jet Tom Tupa have also achieved the feat.
The grizzled veteran made franchise history in the Week 8 win over the New York Giants, becoming the first Jets' punter to successfully place three kicks inside the opponent's 5-yard line in the same game. Four of his 11 punts resulted in a Giants' drive start inside their own 20 and none went for touchbacks.
"Especially, you see how Thomas Morstead was able to perform today. I think he's really the unsung hero of this game because of how he was able to flip the field for us," said veteran receiver Allen Lazard after the 13-10 overtime triumph on October 29.
In addition to netting 43.0 yards per punt, Morstead was reliable as the team's holder for placekicks. In rainy conditions, he was able to handle a shaky snap on the game-winning field goal.
"I think especially as a specialist, the best way to try to lead is just by doing your job at a high level," said Morstead.
The 15th-year NFL veteran has performed at a high level throughout the first half of the schedule. After eight weeks, Morstead ranks seventh overall amongst league leaders in net punting average (44.0). He has pinned the opposition inside its own 20-yard line on 16 of 40 punts.
Morstead signed a one-year deal with the Jets this past offseason after spending the 2022 campaign as a Miami Dolphin.
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