Brett Maher must have felt like this week could not get any worse for him, yet it has.
The Dallas Cowboys kicker put up the worst statistical PAT attempt performance in league history against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night but was fortunate enough not to cost his team a win as he missed four consecutive extra-point conversions.
Also fortunately for Maher, the performance won’t cost him his job, though he can’t afford to miss even a single PAT again in these playoffs.
According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys are planning to sign kicker Tristan Vizcaino to their practice squad ahead of their divisional-round clash with the San Francisco 49ers. While the plan is to stick with Maher in the wake of his embarrassing performance on Monday, they’re keen on a backup plan.
Not Vizcaino’s First Dallas Rodeo
Vizcaino has signed with Dallas before, as well as many NFL teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, and the 49er since going undrafted in 2019.
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Meanwhile, Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel has said that Maher is suffering from an episode of the yips, given that he only missed three PAT attempts all season, though another theory has been circulating.
“I think it’s keep stepping up to the line and shooting that thing,” Fassel told reporters on Wednesday, per ESPN. “We missed a couple of free throws [Monday] … He had a hot hand. Let’s face it, he only missed [six] kicks all season. The yips happen, so I expect a hot hand coming up.”
