FRISCO, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys have released kicker Greg Zuerlein and tight end Blake Jarvin, freeing up about $5 million and placing them under the salary cap before the start of the league season next week.
However, these moves prevent the Cowboys from retaining key players or adding free agents when the market opens. To do this, Dallas will need to create more space, which could be related to decisions to release or trade wide receiver Amari Cooper or right tackle Lael Collins. The Cowboys were in talks to trade both players, sources said.
At the start of the week, the Cowboys restructured the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott and right guard Zach Martin to receive an estimated $22 million in salary cap.
The Cowboys will need a kicker to replace Zuerlein, who was set to make $2.25 million in 2022. ranked in the bottom third of the NFL.
Zuerlein had key misses in losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals, but made the game a winner against the Los Angeles Chargers and came late with a tie against the New England Patriots , leading to an overtime win for Dallas.
In 2020, his first year with the Cowboys, Zuerlein scored 34 of 41 field attempts and 33 of 36 on the PAT. His 34 field goals were a team record.
Special teams coach Jon Fussell defended Zuerlein, whom he coached with the Los Angeles Rams, many times during the season, saying that he thought the kicker’s lack of off-season work due to back surgery contributed to the kicker’s volatility. Zuerlein missed one game last year while on the COVID-19 list, and his replacement, Lirim Khairullahu, scored all five extra points in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.
After the season, the Cowboys signed free agent Chris Naggar, but he has little experience having played in one game for the Cleveland Browns last year.
Jarvin underwent hip surgery last month that could cost him most of the 2022 regular season, and there’s uncertainty about whether he can ever return. There were discussions that Jarvin would accept a $4.25 million cut from his base salary, with the option of getting the money back in the form of incentives.
He signed a four-year contract worth up to $22 million in 2020, but has been injured in each of the past two years and suffered an ACL tear in 2020. Last season, he caught 11 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.
Jarvin could file an injury protection claim that will cost the Cowboys $2 million in cash and $1.2 million in bills.
The Cowboys also released running back Itoh Smith, cornerback Reggie Robinson, and wide receiver Robert Foster. Robinson was selected in the fourth round in 2020 but missed last season with a toe injury.