Phil

Dawson

An inaugural member of the revived Browns in 1999, Dawson is signing a one-day contract to retire in the Dawg Pound. Dawson spent 1999-2012 in Cleveland. Sojourns in San Francisco and Arizona followed. The retirement writing was on the wall for the 44-year-old after he missed six games with a hip issue last year. Despite his long, excellent career, Dawson will not be one of the rare special teamers to bust into the Hall-of-Fame.

“Every year, honestly, for the past seven or eight years, I come home in the offseason and assess where I am and where my family is, and then we all sit down and make a decision,” 44-year-old Dawson said. “We’re in the process of doing that again.” The reality is, the decision isn’t fully up to Dawson, who almost certainly would have already committed to 2019 had a team had come calling. Dawson missed the final six games of 2018 with a hip issue. He had attempted only eight field goals for the wretched Cardinals before going down. His 2017 conversion percentage was 80.

Zane Gonzalez has been promoted from the practice squad and will handle kicking duties for the final five games. 43-year-old Dawson had been battling his hip issue for several weeks, though he did kick against the Chargers in Week 12, where he converted just 1-of-2 field goal attempts. Dawson will be a free agent at season’s end. Not particularly great the past two years, Dawson could be near the ned of the line.

Dawson will return from a one-game absence after getting in a limited week of practice. Matt McCrane handled kicking responsibilities for Arizona in last week’s loss to the Raiders.

Matt McCrane is kicking in Dawson’s absence. Also inactive for the Cardinals are WR Chad Williams, S Rudy Ford, S Budda Baker, LT D.J. Humphries, OL Colby Gossett and DT Robert Nkemdiche.

McCrane was let go by Oakland earlier this year after converting just five of his nine field goal attempts. This could be a sign the Cardinals are preparing to be without Phil Dawson, who missed Thursday’s practice with a hip injury. The Cards are hosting San Francisco (the only team they’ve beaten this year) on Sunday.

Cardinals coach Steve Wilks is labeling him as a “game-time decision.” The Cardinals worked out Matt McCrane on Friday and would likely turn to him if Dawson can’t go on Sunday. The 20-year vet has made just four field goals in his nine games this season.

Dawson got in a limited practice Friday, putting him on track to play. The Cardinals signed Matt McCrane to their practice squad as insurance for Dawson.

Dawson sat out Thursday’s practice with a right hip injury. The Cardinals added Matt McCrane to their practice squad in case Dawson can’t go Sunday against the Niners, his former team. The 43-year-old has made just three of five field goals this year with a long of 43 yards.

Dawson had surgery for a sports hernia in February. He’s not worth a draft pick in fantasy leagues.