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NFL

Cowboys' Mike McCarthy tests positive for covid-19

The coach now joins a list that is growing, which should definitely concern the franchise.

Update:
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is the latest member of the franchise to test positive for covid-19 and will now surely miss Thursday's game.
USA TODAY Sports

As the virus continues to cast it's shadow on the Cowboys, the head coach is the latest in a growing list.

Dallas Cowboys' Mike McCarthy tests positive for covid-19

According to a statement by the franchise, Cowboys' coach Mike McCarthy was placed in covid-19 protocols on Monday and will not be on the sideline to coach in Thursday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The team did, however, state that McCarthy "will continue to direct, and be in involved in, all meetings and game preparations on a virtual basis for the remainder of the week,including Thursday's meetings in New Orleans." Indeed the team will now switch to a virtual platform for all of it's Monday meetings ahead of regularly scheduled training.

McCarthy now joins a list that is growing and includes offensive line coach Joe Philbin, assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko, strength and conditioning coordinator Harold Nash and assistant strength and conditioning coach Kendall Smith. With regards to players, so far right tackle Terence Steele is the only player who has been ruled out this week due to covid-19.

The Cowboys have a real problem on their hands

At this point the Cowboys struggles with covid-19 are well documented and sadly show no signs of ending in the near future. Running backs coach Skip Peete missed the Cowboys' November 14th game against the Atlanta Falcons having tested positive for the virus. There is some good news in that wide receiver Amari Cooper is set to return to practice after being sidelined for two games due to covid-19.

The Cowboys had previously enjoyed a very stable situation with minimal covid-19 cases during their last season. This has not been the case in 2021, however, as the franchise has been all but devastated by the spread of the virus. It was Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin missed the season opener on the covid-19 Additionally Linebacker Keanu Neal the aforementioned Cooper, were the only two unvaccinated players on the 53-man roster, with both having missed two games apiece on the covid-19 list. The list continues with Defensive end Randy Gregory, kicker Greg Zuerlein, guard Brandon Knight and defensive end Bradlee Anae, all of whom have missed games due to covid-19 also missed games on the list.

Mike McCarthy is not the first coach to test positive

Having now tested positive for covid-19 McCarthy becomes the fourth head coach to miss a game while in COVID-19 protocols since last season. He joins Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns, Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals and Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears. At present the Cowboys have given no indication as to who will replace McCarthy ahead of Thursday's game. The logical options would be either defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who served previously as head coach of the Falcons or special teams coordinator John Fassel, who acted as interim head coach for the Los Angeles Rams back in 2016.