Dallas Cowboys make roster move at kicker

The Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 9 placed kicker Greg Zuerlein on the COVID-19 reserve, forcing him to miss a game against the Atlanta Falcons. But after returning mistake-free last week Against the Chiefs — Zuerlein nailed all three of his field goal attempts including a long of 48 yards — Dallas is ready to pledge full confidence in the 10th-year kicker.

Even with the Cowboys expecting Zuerlein’s return against the Chiefs, the organization had planned on “keeping [backup] kicker Lirim Hajrullahu close by,” according Cowboys reporter Michael Gehlken. Gehlken said the organization made Hajrullahu one of its four protected practice-squad players, preventing another NFL team from picking him up. Things changed this week, however. Hajrullahu — who never took a field goal attempt in the Cowboys’ 43-3 win over the Falcons, but made all five of his point-after attempts in Zuerlein’s absence — was released from the practice squad on Tuesday, making him an unrestricted free agent and clearing the way for Zuerlein to take on the full-time role.

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 17-21 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 have initially kept Hajrullahu around could have been 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.