Jeff Heath may be the GOAT, but he is not the Dallas Cowboys’ kicker moving forward following Dan Bailey’s groin injury in San Francisco, which left Heath to kickoff and handle extra points. With Bailey expected to miss some time, the Cowboys are reportedly working out four different kickers this week in Mike Nugent, Jason Myers, Sam Irwin-Hill, and Younghoe Koo.
Source: with Dan Bailey banged up, the Cowboys are expected to work out Mike Nugent, Jason Myers, Sam Irwin Hill and Younghoe Koo.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 23, 2017
Irwin-Hill spent time with the Cowboys this preseason as a punter and kicker hybrid out of Arkansas, coming from Australian football. Calling him back is a logical step for the Cowboys in their search for a replacement kicker.
The rest of the kickers the Cowboys will get a look at all have more experience than Irwin-Hill though, starting with Mike Nugent. The veteran kicker holds the Cincinnati Bengals’ record for points, as his seven-year career with the Bengals ended in 2016. He spent the 2017 preseason with the New York Giants before being cut.
Jason Myers comes from the Arena Football League, recently cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars after making 26 of 30 field goals for them in 2015 and 27 of 34 in 2016. This season, Myers had made 11 of 15 kicks for the Jaguars before missing twice against the LA Rams and being released.
The fourth South Korean born player in NFL history, Younghoe Koo quickly became a well-known name for the wrong reasons after signing with the Chargers after the 2017 Draft. Koo missed two potential game winning kicks to start the season for the Chargers, having an attempt blocked on Monday Night Football against the Broncos in week one. The Chargers started 0-4 and moved on from Koo.
With the way that the Cowboys’ offense has moved the ball, a kicker like Dan Bailey that can confidently hit from distance is a weapon that will be missed until his injury heals. Inside The Star will keep Cowboys Nation updated on which of these kickers – if any – will have Bailey’s shoes to fill as Dallas heads to Washington for week eight.
Very good move to work out 4 kickers and Jason Myers sounds like a logical candidate for the job but how long is his range, Bailey has long range and consistent so this should be considered when they work out to find out who is best and more consistent from short range from inside the 40 yard line and 60 from outside of the 40. I think the pick will be Jason Myers. They could have two kickers one for short range inside the 40 and the other kicker for outside the 40.