The Dallas Cowboys released punter Hunter Niswander, per a team statement posted Thursday afternoon on Twitter.
Niswander spent all of last season on the injured reserve recovering from a back injury. Bryan Anger, who played every game for the Cowboys in 2021, is the only punter remaining of their active roster.
Making his pro debut in the XFL, Niswander averaged 44.6 yards per punt in five games with the DC Defenders. The rebooted league cancelled the rest of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filed for bankruptcy.
Later that year, Dallas signed Niswander to its practice squad. Replacing an injured Chris Jones in the latter half of the 2020 season, the Northwestern alum averaged 47.2 yards on 26 punts. He pinned 10 punts inside the 20 with a net average of 42.0 yards per kick.
According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Niswander is “fully recovered” from back injuries that sidelined him last year.
Cowboys informed punter Hunter Niswander this morning he has been waived, source said. Niswander spent last season on injured reserve but is fully recovered from back issue. He’ll seek better opportunity to compete than he would’ve had in Dallas behind Bryan Anger.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 14, 2022
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Last month, Anger signed a three-year, $9 million extension that solidified his status as the 2022 starter. Yet the Cowboys may want to locate another insurance policy while Niswander chases a starting role elsewhere.
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