FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys nonetheless plan to have Brett Maher kick in Sunday’s divisional spherical matchup in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, however signed Tristan Vizcaino to the apply squad on Wednesday as insurance coverage.
Maher missed 4 further factors in Monday’s wild-card win in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the sport, proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones mentioned Maher would proceed because the kicker, and on Tuesday, head coach Mike McCarthy and particular groups coordinator John Fassel backed him as nicely.
But when Maher struggles when he kicks in apply on Thursday and Friday, the Cowboys will at the least have Vizcaino prepared. He spent a part of the 2020 offseason with the membership.
Vizcaino performed in three video games this season with the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. He made two discipline aim makes an attempt and three further factors within the Cardinals’ win over the Los Angeles Rams.
On Tuesday, Fassel mentioned Maher was battling a case of the yips when he grew to become the primary participant in any NFL recreation since 1932 to overlook 4 further factors in a regular-season or playoff recreation, in keeping with Elias, a span of 16,207 video games.
“I consider within the sizzling hand and I consider within the yips, completely,” Fassel mentioned. “And , you marvel generally the way you get into the yips and also you marvel generally the way you get again into the new hand. I feel it is hold stepping as much as the road and taking pictures that factor. We missed a few free throws [Monday] … He had a sizzling hand. Let’s face it, he solely missed [six] kicks all season. The yips occur, so I anticipate a sizzling hand developing.”
Within the common season, Maher made 29 of 32 discipline aim makes an attempt, lacking from 59 yards twice and 46 yards. He made 50 of 53 further factors however missed his closing point-after try within the regular-season finale loss to the Washington Commanders, then 4 straight in opposition to the Buccaneers.
“Life occurs, man. I imply, have a look at our first three performs. All of us had three drops,” vast receiver T.Y. Hilton mentioned. “It occurs. And for him, man, like after the second, I simply went as much as him and mentioned, ‘Chin up. Hey, we bought you. We OK. We good.’ Simply proceed to simply let him get his confidence. All he must do is see one go in and he is effective. However it occurs, man. Unhealthy stuff occurs, however we bought his again it doesn’t matter what.”