Jerry Jones elated over rookie Brandon Aubrey's performance vs Jets: 'We've got us a kicker'
Dallas Cowboys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey had a perfect game against the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, earning a huge vote of confidence from team owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
Aubrey went 5-for-5 on field goals, including a make from 55 yards out, and made his single extra point attempt on the day. In his debut against the Giants, the former soccer player missed an extra point but since then, he’s done no wrong. The only range he’s still untested in in-game is between 40-49 yards.
“I think we’ve got us a kicker,” Jones said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “That’s a far cry from missing that first extra point that we started the season off with, but I’m the kind of guy that will hang in there with them. … I’m pleased for him, pleased for our team. That’s everything you want for a kicker to experience and still let us have, as a young kicker, a lot of to look forward to.”
As for why the Cowboys had to kick so many field goals instead of getting touchdowns, Mike McCarthy shouldered the blame post-game.
“Play caller was horses**t,” McCarthy joked with reporters. “He’s gotta pick it up.”
Cowboys all-in on rookie kicker
The Cowboys signed Aubrey after he wrapped up a season with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He initially had an MLS career and a collegiate career playing soccer for Notre Dame.
Aubrey made his debut as a football player after going in the USFL’s 2022 Draft to Birmingham. His contract with the Stallions lapsed on July 3. During the season, he went 14 for 15 on field goals and 35-for-35 on point-after attempts.
The USFL gave Aubrey a shoutout after his bomb of a 55-yarder.
In 2017, Aubrey was a first-round draft pick for Toronto F.C. of the MLS. They released him after one season, and he then signed with the United Soccer League team Bethlehem Steel.
Last season, the Cowboys had a consistent, veteran option in Brett Maher. Maher hit on 90.6% of his field goals and 50 of 53 extra-point attempts. In the postseason, he made two field goals with a long of 43. However, he went 1-for-6 on extra points, which caused things to sour.
For Aubrey’s services, the Cowboys are paying the rookie $2.69 million over three years. The deal includes a base salary of $750,000 for this season.