The Dallas Cowboys have had serious issues at the kicker position dating back to last year’s playoffs. It seems like this has unfortunately carried into the offseason, which led to a big decision from the organization on Monday.
Former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher famously missed four straight extra points in their Wild Card Round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They opted not to bring him back this offseason, opting instead to sign veteran kicker Tristan Vizcaino and former USFL kicker Brandon Aubrey, who have been battling for the starting job at the position throughout training camp.
Most assumed that Vizcaino, who has been in the NFL since 2020, would have the clear edge out of the two to win the starting job. Unfortunately, he has struggled mightily in training camp, making only 22 of 35 field goal attempts in the team’s first eight practices.
This led to the team parting ways with him on Monday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
The Cowboys have decided to release Tristan Vizcaino, per source, leaving Brandon Aubrey as the only kicker in camp. Vizcaino went 22 of 35 in the first eight padded practices of training camp. He was 4 of 8 on Saturday. Aubrey has gone 26 of 35.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 7, 2023
This means that there is no kicker on the Cowboys with any NFL experience, and fans are certainly concerned that their special teams will be a disaster yet again this coming season.
can we bring in a real kicker now?? https://t.co/jZ00YMj0Wl
— ✭J.J. Bargas✭ (@JJ96792) August 7, 2023
Kicker won't come back to bite us later…will it? https://t.co/x3FnnJm01M
— Dc_Faithful (@Dc_Faithful1) August 7, 2023
It was pretty clear on Saturday that there were issues at the kicker position for the Cowboys.
I mean, even the fans were booing all the misses…at training camp…where it’s usually a fan love-fest for the team. https://t.co/eZcWsyhhrI— Stephania Bell (@Stephania_ESPN) August 7, 2023
Fwiw, Aubrey's currently sitting at 74% which would have ranked 32nd in FG % made last year.
— Matt Owen (@ProfessorO_NFL) August 7, 2023
just a girl standing in front of an NFL franchise asking them to solve their kicker problem https://t.co/yUJiErhNKr
— Linda™ (@Lindellions) August 7, 2023
Most owners would be concerned about having a kicker with no experience on the roster. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones actually sees Brandon Aubrey’s youth as a positive.
“Why not a veteran kicker? Have you heard of the yips? Usually that goes with age,” Jones told Todd Archer. “(Aubrey’s) age is actually a positive.”
Why not a veteran kicker? “Have you heard of the yips? Usually that goes with age,” Jerry Jones said. “… (Aubrey’s) age is actually a positive; not that a veteran player can’t be a positive too.”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 7, 2023
If Jones were to change his mind, there are a number of veteran kickers still on the market, including Mason Crosby, Robbie Gould, Ryan Succop, and Randy Bullock.
