NFL Rumors: Cowboys cut Tristan Vizcaino, kicker woes still ongoing
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys may have washed their hands of Brett Maher, but that doesn't mean that the team's kicking woes are going away. And as of now, it would appear that the club hasn't figured out an answer just yet.
On Monday, the Cowboys cut kicker Tristan Vizcaino, as reported by ESPN's Todd Archer, after signing him in the offseason in hopes that he could be a replacement for Maher, who infamously caught the yips at the end of last season and in the playoffs. That leaves Brandon Aubrey as the only kicker on Dallas' 90-man roster.
But therein lies the problem with what the Cowboys currently have at the position. Vizcaino was released after going 22-of-35 in camp thus far, which is obviously not ideal. Aubrey, however, hasn't been particularly reliable, as Archer noted that he's gone 26-of-35 so far in camp. That's better, to be sure, but it's still not the type of consistency that any potential contender wants from their kicking game.
The truth of the matter is that the Cowboys kicker for the 2023 season likely isn't on the roster right now — and that isn't to say that Vizcaino will be coming back.
With veteran free agents such as Mason Crosby, Robbie Gould and even someone like Ryan Succop still on the market, those are options. Dallas could also look at less proven but younger options still available like Quinn Nordin or Zane Gonzalez.
No matter what direction they choose, though, it's abundantly clear that the Cowboys kicker carousel is still spinning and, as of now, it's not been a ton of fun to be saddled up on one of those steel painted horses.
NFL Rumors: Packers get Rashan Gary in camp off the PUP list
One of the big moves for the Green Bay Packers coming into the first week of the preseason that had everyone buzzing was cutting veteran backup quarterback Danny Etling, thus making the two backup options for Jordan Love rookie Sean Clifford and USFL MVP Alex McGough, neither of whom have seen action in a regular season NFL game.
But the bigger news may actually be on the other side of the ball.
Ahead of Monday's practice for the Packers, the club activated star edge rusher Rashan Gary from the PUP list as he recovers from an ACL injury suffered last season, per ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. Fowler also noted that the plan for Green Bay is to bring Gary along slowly and ramp up his workload throughout camp and the preseason.
While it might not be an immediate hit-the-ground-running type of situation for Gary with the Packers, getting him back into the fold before the first game of the preseason is massive. Not because they are going to put him on the field in the preseason opener but, rather, because they need Gary on the field for Week 1 of the regular season. This move starts to put him on track for that.
The Packers took Lukas Van Ness in the first round of this year's draft, but even if he starts should Gary need to miss time, the depth on the edge in Green Bay is a concern behind Gary, Van Ness and veteran Preston Smith. Not having Gary in that equation would definitely pour some cold water on the notion of defensive improvement for this team.
How Gary progresses in his continued recovery coming off of the PUP list will surely be key. But it's a great sign that things are trending in the right direction.
NFL Rumors: Chiefs could cut former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Even with turnover at the wide receiver position over the past two offseasons, there are precisely no reasons for anyone to be concerned about the Kansas City Chiefs offense. That being said, there could be a surprise coming for the reigning Super Bowl champs on that side of the ball if things keep trending in the way they currently are.
Former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire was suggested as a potential surprise cut of the 2023 preseason this year by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report. And when you look at his reasoning and the shape of the backfield in Kansas City, it's not a hard conclusion to reach.
The Chiefs running back room is sure to be led by second-year standout Isiah Pacheco and returning veteran Jerick McKinnon. Coming into training camp, the assumption would've been that Edwards-Helaire would then slide into that third spot.
But as Knox noted in his breakdown of surprising players on the roster bubble, UDFA rookie signing Deneric Prince has been one of the stars of training camp thus far for the Chiefs. Not only has he been explosive as a runner and pass-catcher, but he's also emerged as a potential special teams option as a returner.
That latter part is what could end up being the death knell for Edwards-Helaire in Kansas City. He doesn't offer special teams value and, frankly, hasn't been reliable in the offense either. Prince is unproven offensively but can offer that return ability, which could be the deciding factor to keep the UDFA over the former first-round pick.
Talk about what would be an unceremonious end for CEH.