No one enjoys having surgery, of course. But for Cowboys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey, what might have been an urgent surgery this offseason turned out to be somewhat fortunate.
Back in late January and early February, Aubrey experienced persistent abdominal pain. After seeking medical attention, he was informed that his appendix needed to be removed. The issue for Aubrey was that he was scheduled to participate in the NFL’s Pro Bowl events after having an outstanding first season NFL with the team from the USFL.
He was determined not to miss the Pro Bowl, so he took a risk, received some antibiotics, and managed to get through the weekend in Orlandobefore undergoing an appendectomy the following day. Aubrey publicly discussed the surgery this week.
“I had to take some forced rest there. Had the surgery the day after the Pro Bowl,” he informed reporters via DallasCowboys.com. “It was bothering me during the Pro Bowl, I had it removed and then had to rest. Actually, it started hurting four days before the Pro Bowl, so I went to the doctor, they examined me, and did a scan, and they said, ‘Yeah, you have appendicitis.’
“I wanted to be at the Pro Bowl, so they gave me some antibiotics instead of doing the surgery then and there. It allowed me to make it through the Pro Bowl, and then I had the surgery when I got home.”
Cowboys Discovered a Valuable Player in Their Kicker
Certainly, Aubrey earned the right to approach the offseason any way he chooses, after the remarkable year he just had. He led the NFL by making 36 field goals out of 38 attempts, achieving a 94.7% success rate, which ranked third in the NFL. He also made 49 of his 52 extra-point attempts.
Aubrey attempted 10 field goals of 50 yards or more and successfully made all 10. He also made 14 out of 14 attempts on field goals of 40 yards or more.
The 29-year-old Aubrey was a standout player in soccer at Notre Dame during his time in college and went on to play professional soccer, becoming a first-round pick of the Toronto Football Club in Major League Soccer. After his soccer career ended, Aubrey worked in technology but began retraining as a placekicker.
He spent two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL before joining the Cowboys last summer. It was an extraordinary season, but Aubrey indicates that he is leaving 2023 in the past.
“It’s a fresh start,” he remarked. “Obviously, you just want to go out there and perform in every game. I thought about it during the offseason, reflected on it, and then shifted my focus to this year. This year will be its own unique experience, and I need to ensure that it's a successful one.”
Brandon Aubrey Took a Break
Regarding his offseason, Aubrey stated that he took six weeks off before resuming training, which included the recovery period following his appendectomy.
“It’s been going well. I rested, recuperated, and relaxed. It provided a mental break, you know. This was my first break in four years, after playing four USFL seasons. It was good to have that break,” Aubrey shared.
“You don’t really realize your state until you slow down and stop. Perhaps there was a bit of mental fatigue creeping in. There was also some fatigue in the leg, so the break was beneficial.”
