David

Buehler

Rookie Dan Bailey will handle field-goal duties for the second straight game against the Lions this weekend. You should be able to do better for a Buehler fill-in.

A Jerry Jones favorite as a 2009 fifth-rounder, Buehler’s stock dropped last season due to right hip surgery and the emergence of Dan Bailey. Under the NFL’s new kickoff rules, Buehler’s country-strong, but erratic leg doesn’t carry as much value. The Cowboys were not going to pay his elevated $1.26 million salary.

It was no longer feasible for the Cowboys to carry both Buehler and Dan Bailey on the roster. And with Bailey 20-of-21 on the year, the decision was easy. The Cowboys, who are infatuated with Buehler’s big leg, will likely give him another chance to battle for the job next season.

The hip surgery is reportedly unrelated to the groin issue that landed Buehler on IR. He’s expected to be medically cleared for the entire offseason program, but will have to fight for his job. Dan Bailey was piping hot before two straight critical misses the last two weeks.

The injury left a bruise a deep shade of purple after Buehler was forced from practice. “I was, ‘wow, it’s not supposed to look like this,’” Buehler said. “This stinks.” It’s an aggravation of an early-season injury and is expected to take a minimum of five weeks to heal.

It’s a lot to pay a kickoff specialist coming off hip surgery. Buehler has been a Jerry Jones favorite since Dallas drafted him in the 2009 fifth round, but he’s become expendable after Dan Bailey nailed 32-of-37 field goal tries as a rookie in 2011. Buehler seems likely to be waived before the season.

Tony Romo is expected to take another pain-killing shot while wearing a kevlar vest to protect his ribs. After putting in full practices all week, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Felix Jones are as close to 100 percent as they’ve been in nearly a month.

Stephen McGee is active, so the Cowboys have three quarterbacks “up” in the event Tony Romo aggravates his rib injury. Rookie K Dan Bailey will handle kickoffs and long field goals with Buehler down. Buehler tested his strained groin during pre-game warmups, but didn’t show enough to the medical staff.

Buehler is nearly set to return from his groin injury, but his role will just be as a kickoff specialist if active. Bailey is 15-of-16 on field goals this season, including 6-of-6 from 40-plus yards out.

Buehler was out of the league in 2012, and is just 24-of-32 lifetime on field-goal attempts. He has a very big leg, however. There’s an outside chance Buehler earns the Giants’ kicking job, but they should end up re-signing free agent Lawrence Tynes.