Greg Zuerlein Out, Leaving Cowboys Kickerless

Greg “the Leg” Zuerlein was moved to the COVID-19 injured reserve list on November 9. Zuerlein is the only placekicker on the Cowboys’ active or practice squad rosters, leaving a serious question going into Week 9 against the Falcons. Who is going to be kicking extra points and field goals at AT&T Stadium on Sunday?    

Zuerlein began the season unable to play as he was rehabilitated from off-season back surgery. He missed all of the preseason games but was able to start on Week 1. That game was also his worst of the season, as he missed two of his five field goals.

The Cowboys opted to go for it on fourth and short repeatedly last week against the Denver Broncos, marking the first game this season that Zuerlein has not attempted a field goal.    

It is not known whether Zuerlein is vaccinated, nor is it known whether he tested positive or is considered a close contact. If he is a close contact and tests negative in two tests 24 hours apart, he may be active for Sunday. The Cowboys plan to hold a workout for several kickers Wednesday, indicating that Zuerlein is unlikely to be available.    

Zuerlein has hit 14 of his 18 opportunities this season and has completed more than 91-percent of his extra-point attempts. His longest field goal of the season so far was from 56-yards.     

Should Zuerlein have tested positive — even if it’s a false positive — he will have a mandatory quarantine period, then a testing period. The process will almost certainly mean that Zuerlein will be out for Sunday’s home game.    

There are a few options right now for kickers who could be available. The most likely is Hirim Hajrullahu, a Canadian Football League star who kicked in one preseason game for the Cowboys this year. Hajrullahu was signed, released, re-signed to the practice squad, then released again, but isn’t currently on an active roster.   

The Cowboys started the preseason with Punter Hunter Niswander kicking field goals, including what may go down as the most embarrassingly bad miss of the season during the Hall of Fame Game.   

Then, there is the possibility that the Cowboys could ask Punter Bryan Anger to take a swing at the position. Anger hasn’t recorded an official field goal attempt in his college or pro career but never say never.     

Last week didn’t work out for the Cowboys and the decision to forego field goal attempts. There was no indication from Head Coach Mike McCarthy post-game that Zuerlein was unable to play. Instead, the numbers indicated that going for the first down on fourth and short indicated likely success.     

Should the Cowboys be unable to find a kicker ahead of the game, there is always a chance that the team will operate in the touchdown-only territory. While this is probably the most unlikely scenario, it’s also one that fans would relish, if nothing but for the chance to see Prescott and company bounce back from the disaster of Week 8.