IRVING, Texas --As expected, the Cowboys signed Dave Rayner in time for Tuesday's practice -- bringing their kicker total to five as final cuts approach this weekend.
The team must trim their current 82-man roster to 80 by Tuesday afternoon. Rayner will wear No. 2.
Just waived by the Lions, Rayner made 13 of 16 attempts (81.3 percent) for Detroit last season. He has kicked for six NFL teams since 2005, making 55 of 75 attempts (73.3 percent) with a long of 55. The Cowboys also think he's a capable kickoff guy.
"If they had the guy they wanted already here, they wouldn't have brought me in," Rayner said. "That's kind of what I went with and obviously I talked to them yesterday and they were pretty excited about bringing me in. I'm going to try to win the job."
Last week the Cowboys signed 11th-year veteran Shayne Graham, who made his lone 38-yard try against the Vikings. Rookie Dan Bailey made both attempts from 41 and 37 yards.
David Buehler, the frontrunner entering training camp, returned Monday from a hip flexor that sidelined him for two weeks. Rookie Kai Forbath is also working his way back from serious quad injury, but hasn't kicked all preseason.
