Dallas Cowboys go virtual as COVID-19 roster grows by three players



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FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys added three more players, including second-year wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, to the COVID-19 roster and moved to a virtual format on Sunday and Monday after defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins were sent home early after Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans.

“I think like most things we do, we’re just careful and want to make sure we contain this outbreak and just be smart about it,” said coach Mike McCarthy.

In addition to Lamb, safeties Malik Hooker and Israel Mukuamu were added to the reserve / COVID-19 list on Monday.

Announcing that Quinn and Watkins have been placed on COVID protocols, the Cowboys announced that 93% of their players are fully vaccinated, which would represent 80 of the 86 players on the roster. All coaching and support staff had to be fully immunized before training camp started in order to continue working close to the players.

If a fully vaccinated player or coach fails a test and is completely asymptomatic, they may return to club premises and interact with players after two negative PCR tests performed at least 24 hours apart, plus one negative Mesa test. before entry.

If a fully vaccinated player or coach tests positive and exhibits symptoms, then they should remain in isolation until they have two negative PCR tests separated by 24 hours and no longer have symptoms for 48 hours. .

Unvaccinated players without symptoms will be forced to miss at least 10 days. Unvaccinated players with symptoms will also miss at least 10 days, along with other requirements depending on the severity of the symptoms.

It is not known if Quinn or all four players are showing symptoms.

Coaches and support staff were tested on Sunday.

“Hopefully we hit that 72 hour mark from Saturday and hopefully we get more information there,” McCarthy said.

By placing four players on the COVID roster, the Cowboys only need to make one lineup move to reach the 80-player limit on Tuesday. Once players complete the protocols, the Cowboys will need to make a corresponding move.

The Cowboys are scheduled to return to practice on Tuesday, but McCarthy didn’t expect the tenor of the practice to be affected.

“I’m probably a bit like everyone else here. I look at the numbers, I listen to the league’s recommendations, I’m very aware of what’s going on in our society, certainly here locally and I’m anticipating,” did he declare. “My job is to make sure we have a plan no matter what.”

A year ago, the Cowboys had six players for seven games missed on the COVID roster.

“The message is constant. Whenever there is a memo from the league or the NFLPA, it always comes out,” McCarthy said. “I really like the player council that we have put in place. These guys are active. We all clearly understand what state we are in. We have no idea what happened last year. We have no idea what happened last year. let’s take the same approach. “

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