The Dallas Cowboys kickers have been a disappointment through two weeks of training camp. The position features Jonathan Garibay, the undrafted rookie from Texas Tech, and offseason free-agent addition Lirim Hajrullahu. Dallas has run out of patience with both players’ inconsistent performances and will host a tryout.
Four kickers are invited to showcase their skills in front of the reigning NFC East champs. The group includes Brett Maher, J.J. Molson, Matt Ammendola, and Cole Murphy.
“What we were expecting out of the guys at the position hasn’t been at the level we want right now. The kicker’s job is to kick the ball through the goal post. We are looking for guys who can do that more consistently.”
-Will McClay, Cowboys VP of Player Personnel
A Look at the Four Kickers
Maher kicked for the Cowboys for two seasons and holds and holds the record for the four-longest field goals in team history. His most impressive boot came in Week 7 of the 2019 season, where Maher converted a 63-yard field goal. In his Dallas tenure, he made 49 of 66 field goal attempts and 68 extra points in 69 tries. Maher played eight games for the New Orleans Saints in 2021, going 16-18 on FGs and 10-12 on extra points.
Ammendola played 11 games for the New York Jets this past season. The 25-year-old tallied 13 FGs in 19 attempts and 14-15 on PATs.
Murphy spent his 2021 campaign in the USFL as one of the kickers in the league. Molson dominated at UCLA and practiced with the Green Bay Packers in the spring. He was released in May.
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The Troubling Dallas Cowboys Kickers
Garibay was the favorite to win the kicking job but has struggled mightily. In camp, the rookie has made 32-of-59 kicks. Distance has been an issue, which is shocking for a player who knocked down a 62-yarder in college. Garibay is not making adjustments as time goes on, which leads to a continuous disappointing display.
Hajrullahu picked up his play this week, drilling seven of his eight field goals and legging all three kicks in the “mojo moments.” Although he showed signs of improvement, the team is not confident in Hajrullahu’s consistency.
If Dallas signs any free agent kickers, the new addition could be the favorite to land the starting job. The franchise will most likely take their time in naming the kicker for Week 1.