The Dallas Cowboys added kicker Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad Wednesday, creating an option in case Brett Maher’s wild card problems continue this week.
Maher missed his first four extra points in the 31-14 win over Tampa Bay, an NFL first in both the regular season and the playoffs. His fifth try ended a streak of five straight PAT failures that stretched back to the regular-season finale once morest Washington.
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones, coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coach John Fassel supported Maher throughout the week and said they expected him to kick off Sunday night’s divisional round in San Francisco.
Jones was less determined on his radio show on Tuesday. He said the team will wait and see how the week goes. The move to Vizcaino might come if Maher’s problems in training continue.
The only full practice session of the week is on Thursday, but Fassel said there would be no change in Maher’s routine. Fassel said Maher kicks Thursday and Friday on a normal week.
Vizcaino, who spent part of the 2020 offseason in Dallas, scored both field goals and all three extra points in Week 10 with Arizona. The 26-year-old was with New England following that but didn’t attempt any kicks.
In 2021, Vizcaino scored just 10 out of 15 extra points with the Los Angeles Chargers before being demoted in October. He spent the remainder of the season in the LA practice squad.
Maher was in the top 10 in the regular season following hitting 29 of 32 field goals (91%). Before the playoffs, he converted 50 of 53 PATs.
