There are usually a few surprising reasons why NFL players skip practice each week, but Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey provided a new one on October 23rd.

On Wednesday, Aubrey was not present at the Cowboys’ practice, and the reason wasn’t due to an injury. The team’s injury report indicated that the All-Pro kicker had jury duty.

Aubrey’s role as a prominent juror has understandably caught the attention of both Cowboys fans and NFL enthusiasts. Many are curious about how his duty as a juror will affect his career and if he will need to miss time after being selected for a 12-person jury.

Here’s what you need to know about Aubrey as he balances his civic responsibilities with his kicking duties for the Cowboys.

Brandon Aubrey’s Jury Duty

Aubrey missed practice on Wednesday, October 23rd, to fulfill his jury duty, having been selected to serve on a 12-person jury for a felony assault case in Tarrant County, which involves a second-degree strangulation charge, according to Nick Harris from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Aubrey voluntarily chose to attend jury duty on Wednesday, despite the Cowboys’ attempts to “pull him away” from it, as reported by the Star-Telegram.

Aubrey is expected back in court on Thursday and Friday. Judge David Hagerman, who is overseeing the case, is also anticipated to accommodate Aubrey’s football schedule.

However, there is currently no clear timeline on how long the case will last, so it remains uncertain how this will affect Aubrey’s practice availability moving forward.

Will Brandon Aubrey Play in Week 8?

Even though there may be questions about his practice attendance, it appears unlikely that he will miss any games.

The trial will not require jurors to be sequestered, as noted by the Star-Telegram. This means Aubrey will be free during the evenings and weekends, allowing him to kick in the Cowboys’ “Sunday Night Football” game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.

As the Cowboys are set to travel to San Francisco for the game on Saturday night, Aubrey will not miss the flight with the team.

The most significant impact on Aubrey’s routine due to jury duty will be on his practice schedule. Typically, he practices kicking at the Cowboys’ training facility, the Ford Center, on Wednesdays while the offensive and defensive players meet. He also participates in a brief full-speed session with the team on Thursdays, not kicking again until game day.

On Wednesdays, Aubrey usually practices kicking while other players are in meetings, and on Thursdays, he has a short full-speed session with the team. After that, he won’t kick again until game day.

Aubrey’s adjusted routine will include one-on-one sessions with his special teams coach, John Fassel, after his jury duties conclude for the day.

Despite these alterations, Aubrey seems ready to keep kicking for Dallas throughout the duration of the trial.

Do the Cowboys Have a Backup Kicker?

As of Wednesday, October 23rd, the Cowboys do not have a backup kicker on their 53-man roster or practice squad. It remains uncertain if Aubrey’s jury duty will lead them to sign one, but as long as they only have him on the depth chart, fans and fantasy football managers need not worry about Aubrey missing time.