Andrew Beck, the New York Jets’ fullback and tight end, took on a new job last week in Kansas City: kicking off. The eighth-year veteran handled kickoff duties for the Jets during their loss to the Chiefs, a move the team had been quietly preparing behind the scenes.
“It was something I talked about with [special teams coach Chris] Banjo,” Beck said. “We talked about it a while ago, kind of joking around. Then, last week we talked about it a little bit more.”
The switch came after the Jets allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown against the Raiders in the prior game. Banjo saw an opportunity to strengthen the coverage unit by putting Beck, a bigger-bodied player, on the kickoff line as an extra tackler.
“Any time you have an opportunity to get an extra tackler on the field with a play like this, I think it’s a benefit,” Banjo said. “So, yes, we’ve definitely been working on it for a while. Always look for different ways, a way to get 1 percent better, continue to close the gap that we continue to talk about and stress. So, whenever we feel like and identify an area where it can help, we’re definitely going to try to maximize it.”
Beck’s kicking experience before last week was limited to high school and informal practice at earlier stops in his career. He had never kicked in an actual game. He also serves as the Jets’ emergency long snapper, a role that led him to describe himself bluntly.
“I’m an emergency specialist,” Beck said.
He kicked off five times against the Chiefs and made one error, sending the ball out of bounds to open the second half and handing Kansas City possession at their own 40-yard line. The Chiefs scored a touchdown on that drive.
Beck said he practiced kickoffs again this week but isn’t sure whether coaches will use him again against the Buffalo Bills. Punter Austin McNamara and kicker Jason Sanders have handled kickoffs for the Jets earlier this season.
Allen and Leonhard’s Wisconsin Ties
Jets running back Braelon Allen will face a familiar figure this week in Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, whom Allen has known since he was 16. Leonhard, then Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, recruited Allen to the Badgers when Allen played safety, and later served as the program’s interim head coach during Allen’s time there.
“He’s great. I love Coach Leonhard to death,” Allen said. “He was a big reason why I went to UW. Once I got there our relationship built more and more over time. He was actually the first one to give me a nickname at Wisconsin. It was ‘War Machine.’ We’ve had a great relationship. I’m excited to see him.”
Leonhard, who played for the Jets from 2009 to 2011, is in his first season as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator.
Other Roster News
The Jets activated rookie safety VJ Payne off injured reserve Saturday and waived offensive lineman Kohl Levao to make room on the roster.
Separately, the NFL fined Jets right tackle Armand Membou $14,926 for removing his helmet during the loss to the Chiefs. Membou spiked his helmet after allowing a sack in the fourth quarter and drew a penalty on the play.
