Kicking competition heats up on first day of pads at Cowboys training camp

With the kicker situation still “fluid” for the Dallas Cowboys, the team’s two kickers battled it out in front of a crowd on Monday. During the team’s first padded practice of training camp, Tristan Vizcaino and Brandon Aubrey went kick for kick.

Both kickers ended up making the same number of kicks, however, which seems to suggest the competition is far from over.

In one of Mike McCarthy’s “Mojo moments,” Vizcaino and Aubrey both went 3-for-3 on kicks from 38, 44 and 48 yards out.

Earlier in the practice, the two kickers got a chance to nail seven kicks each. Both made five of seven. Vizcaino reportedly wide left from 33 yards and again from 45. Aubrey went wide left from 43 and 45, according to Michael Gehlken.

Cowboys competition between Vizcaino, Aubrey

Since 2019, Vizcaino has bounced around several teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, and the New England Patriots. Dallas signed him following the 2022 season. He inked a two-year deal for just under $2 million.

Undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Vizcaino went 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on his extra points in one appearance with the Arizona Cardinals last season. He started the season with the Patriots before they waived him.

In 2021, the former Washington Husky drilled 6-of-7 field goals, but hit 10-of-15 extra points for the LA Chargers.

During his NFL career thus far, Vizcaino has drilled 11-of-12 field goal attempts, with the longest kick he’s made being a 47-yarder.

Although the Cowboys could very well continue forward with Vizcaino, they were intent on having another kicking competition during training camp.

To that end, the Cowboys signed Aubrey after he wrapped up a season with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He initially had an MLS career and a collegiate career playing soccer for Notre Dame.

In 2017, Aubrey was a first-round draft pick for Toronto F.C. of the MLS. They released him after one season, and he then signed with the United Soccer League team Bethlehem Steel.

Aubrey made his debut as a football player after going in the USFL’s 2022 Draft to Birmingham. His contract with the Stallions lapsed on July 3. During the season, he went 14 for 15 on field goals and 35-for-35 on point-after attempts.

The new-er Cowboys kicker grew up in DFW and played soccer for the Dallas Texans.