Mat

McBriar

McBriar, 34 in July, finished tied for last in net average last season while punting for the Eagles, and Baker was out of the league in 2012. The Raiders are eyeing veteran competition for 24-year-old Marquette King.

Dallas signed Jones to a three-year deal upon promoting him from the practice squad late in the season. The inference is that free agent Mat McBriar, coming off surgery to remove a cyst in his leg, may have lost his job for good.

A fairly significant injury for a Cowboys team that looks like it’s going to be punting a lot more this evening. K Dan Bailey is now in the game at punter.

The cyst, rare in athletes, was discovered two weeks ago as the cause of his “drop foot” condition late in the season. McBriar is confident that he will make a full recovery in time to play the 2012 season. His preference is to re-sign with the Cowboys.

Starter Mat McBriar (questionable) suffered a left foot injury in last week’s game against the Eagles, and the Cowboys do not want to risk having Dan Bailey handling punting duties again.

It’s a sign that Mat McBriar has recovered enough from nerve damage in his left foot to handle punting chores in Week 11. Jones averaged 43 yards on three punts against the Seahawks two weeks ago.

McBriar hadn’t been the same since injuring his plant foot in Week 8, and the Cowboys apparently didn’t trust the two-time Pro Bowler going into their most important game. Also the Cowboys’ holder, McBriar’s injury sets up the possibility that Tony Romo, who made an infamous holding gaffe during the 2006-07 postseason, could be holding kicks from here on out. An eight-year veteran, McBriar is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

McBriar believes he “should” be able to resume punting by the summer. If he’s not healthy by the time training camp rolls around, McBriar won’t begin 2012 on someone’s active roster.

Chas Henry appears to have won Philly’s punter job, although the Billy Cundiff situation in Washington is a reminder that roster spots aren’t locked in until the real games begin. McBriar, 33, struggled with the Cowboys last year.

McBriar, a two-time Pro Bowler, proved his knee/foot was relatively healthy in a Monday tryout. Even though he’s only at 90 percent, he’ll start pushing incumbent Chas Henry, who disappointed as a rookie in 2011. McBriar has averaged 45.3 yards per punt during his career while Henry was at 42.9 last season.