As Stephen Jones commented after the end of the 2022 Draft, free agency was not over yet. Well, everything seems to indicate that kicker Jonathan Garibay will have some serious competition heading into training camp in Oxnard. Since Friday morning, the Cowboys have signed Lirim Hajrullahu.
The #Cowboys are re-signing kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, source said.
They now have two kickers on the roster: undrafted rookie Jonathan Garibay and Hajrullahu, the former CFL all-star who made his NFL debut for Dallas last season and also kicked for Carolina.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 1, 2022
Although the name sounds familiar, it is because the kicker with European roots was already part of the Lone Star team. The player would be signed the third week of August 2021 in order to cover for Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein who was returning from back surgery. All this during the final stage of training camp last year, following the fact that the organization also released punter Hunter Niswander at the time.
Still, Lirim would end up being released within a week, but would re-sign with the team on September 14 for the practice squad. After a week of working with this group, he would be free again and then return to the roster from November 10 to 23.
In an interesting detail, Lirim would officially see action for the first time in his NFL career with the Cowboys. He would be in week 10 in a 43-3 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Where the kicker, although he did not make any field goals, he managed to perfectly execute the five extra points of his during the match.
Following his re-release in November, Hajrullahu returned to action in the final stretch of the 2021 campaign with the Carolina Panthers. There of five field goal attempts, he managed to score four without problems. His longest field goal with Carolina would be 35 yards against Tampa Bay on Jan. 9.
Now, as already mentioned, the reason Lirim is brought is because he knows the organization and to compete with Garibay in California. This was something to be expected from the Cowboys. While Jonathan put on a great show during mandatory minicamp, it was obvious that they were going to try other options to assess performance.
In fact, the rookie not selected in the Draft managed to stand out during that day of activities. Accomplishing everything except a shot that missed to the left for 55 yards and another to the right for 53. Clearly, they’ll be looking to determine if the kid has what it takes for how demanding the NFL is or if Lirim will end up playing instead. After all, the latter already has some experience in the league.
Undrafted rookie kicker Jonathan Garibay took the most live field-goal reps as he has all spring, at least with media in attendance. The results were overall positive. He did miss wide left from 55 (made from same distance on next attempt) and wide right from 53. pic.twitter.com/tb4YumlRYU
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) June 14, 2022
However, despite his 32 years, Hajrullahu does not have that much history in the NFL, so if Garibay puts his mind to it, he could get the job. What is certain is that Lirim has vast experience in the Canadian American Football League. Especially with the Toronto Argonauts, where the kicker hit the game-winning field goal in the 105th edition of the Gray Cup in 2017.
Therefore, one of the competitions that will be taking place for a starting job in the Cowboys will be between Garibay and Hajrullahu. It will be an interesting thing to watch both in preseason matchups and in practices alongside the Broncos and Chargers. Fortunately, training camp in Oxnard is not far away. Which will have its first official practice from July 27.
