Dallas Cowboys provide status update on kicker Greg Zuerlein

The Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 9 placed kicker Greg Zuerlein on the COVID-19 reserve, forcing him to sit out last week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

It hardly mattered, as the Cowboys throttled the Falcons to the tune of a 43-3 victory. In Zuerlein’s absence, the Cowboys elevated kicker Lirim Hajrullahu from the practice squad, and even Hajrullahu did all that was asked. Though he never took the field for a field goal attempt due to the Cowboys’ touchdown-heavy performance, he made all five of his point-after attempts.

However, this coming week, as the Cowboys prepare for a critical matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Cowboys reporter Michael Gehlken had good news to share on his status: the franchise expects Greg Zuerlein to return this week.

Even with Zuerlein’s return, though, the Cowboys are “keeping kicker Lirim Hajrullahu close by,” according to Gehlken, who said the organization made Hajrullahu one of its four protected practice-squad players, preventing another NFL team from picking him up.

Zuerlein, who spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams and was named a 2017 first-team All-Pro, has been solid for the Cowboys this year. He’s 14-18 on field-goal attempts, but two of his four misses came from 50-plus yards out. He’s also converted on 21 of his 23 point-after attempts, and against the Chargers, Zuerlein kicked a game-winning field goal.

Another reason why the Cowboys may be keeping Hajrullahu around could be Zuerlein’s Week 1 performance. He’s been solid since then, but in a 31-29 loss to the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Zuerlein went just 3-5 on field-goal attempts and two for three on extra points, costing the Cowboys the game.

Mike McCarthy discusses his faith in Zuerlein

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was not concerned when Zuerlein trotted out for the game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 — despite it being just one week removed from a poor Week 1 performance. The following Monday, McCarthy revealed why he had so much confidence in his veteran kicker.

“The line going in was 40 (yard line). In my experience, that’s something you grade your on … in the pregame. So, it’s something you just keep on your call sheet,” McCarthy said. “When you’re kicking indoors, it’s usually about the 40.”

The Cowboys special teams had Zuerlein’s expected range marked off from before the game kicked off. When they lined up from the Chargers’ 38-yard line, McCarthy knew it was well within his kicker’s range.