As part of Tuesday’s roster cuts, the Cowboys waived Lirim Hajrullahu, leaving Brett Maher as the only kicker on the roster.
Not that I want to, but it looks like we all have to give Maher a second chance with the team, at least for now. The kicking duties were one position I highlighted to keep an eye on last preseason game because one of them could have been on the way out when the roster cuts took place this week.
Maher spent last season with the Saints; honestly, he was not that bad. He made a career-high 88.9% of his field goal attempts in eight games with the team. Maher’s time with the Cowboys is mainly remembered by the 63-yard FG he made against the Eagles in 2019 or the handful of games he cost the team by missing an extra point.
Maher had a solid day yesterday in open practice going 9-for-11, connecting from 33, 34, 40, 42, 47, 48, 50 & 55. His two misses came from 45 and 58. His long distance is not what I am concerned about; it is anything inside 50, and he was good at practice, but can he hit them when it matters?
That leads me to the point of this post. Maher looks to be the only kicker on the roster going into week one, putting all the faith in him to do an excellent job, but how long will it take for people to start asking for the Cowboys to sign someone else? All it might take is a missed kick or two that changes the outcome of an important game for fans to start wishing they had someone else.
We can do nothing but trust him for the time being, and if he misses two or three kicks this week in preseason, I can hear it now; it is all on Maher for the time being, and I hope he cashes in on this chance.