According to Michael Gehlken, the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Cowboys will sign a new kicker in time for their third preseason match this weekend. __S.1__
During a press conference on Wednesday head coach, Mike McCarthy indicated that the team plans to sign free agent kicker Lirim Hajrullahu. The Cowboys are now able to offer the 31-year old a shot at the Cowboys after he worked out on Tuesday.
McCarthy brought in another kicker after Hunter Niswander had handled the kicking duties for the team’s two first preseason games. According to the Dallas head coach, the ex-Northwestern punter is having a “problem” and the Cowboys are in desperate need of another player at this position. It is not clear if Niswander will go to the scrap heap to make room for Hajrullahu.
Although Greg Zuerlin, the Cowboys’ usual starting kicker, is expected to be fully healed from his back surgery by Week 1, McCarthy and his staff want to be extra careful about the position throughout the Cowboys preseason.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy indicated the team will be signing kicker Lirim Hajrullahu. Said that a roster move is coming while Hunter Niswander is “having an issue.” Kicker Greg Zuerlein (back) remains on track for Week 1. https://t.co/7tKFwPctRd
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 18, 2021
Hajrullahu only had two brief stints with the NFL, both of which were over the past year and a quarter. In April 2020, he joined the Los Angeles Rams but was replaced by Sam Sloman. He was then waived on September 4, last year.
A few months later, he bounced back and joined the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. He was released again in March and has been a free agent since.
Hajrullahu started his professional career in Canada’s Football League. He quickly became a reliable field goal killer for a few teams. As an undrafted agent from Western Ontario, he started his professional career with the Winnipeg Bombers in 2014. He went on to play for both the Toronto Argonauts (now the Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and until 2019.
Over six seasons in the CFL, Hajrullahu made 239 of 287 field goal attempts (83.3 percent) and punted 651 times for an average of 44.1 yards.
This Saturday, the Cowboys will face off against the Houston Texans. Kick-off is set for 8 p.m. ET